Jurgen Klopp has already given his verdict on Steven Gerrard replacing him as Liverpool boss

Liverpool are looking to step up negotiations on a new contract to keep manager Jurgen Klopp at Anfield beyond 2024.

According to reports, a new deal has been pushed up the agenda after Mike Gordon, president of owners Fenway Sports Group, flew in for the Champions League first leg victory over Villarreal which has put them within touching distance of a third final in five seasons.

It is believed the club have been encouraged by positive noises coming from Klopp’s camp and his agent Marc Kosicke was in the directors’ box, seated not that far away from Gordon, to watch the 2-0 win over their Spanish visitors.

Klopp arrived at Anfield in October 2015 and, after immediately leading the club to League Cup and Europa League finals in his first season, signed an improved deal to 2022 at the end of that campaign.

A new four-and-a-half-year deal was agreed in 2019 but there is now hope in Liverpool that he could extend his stay potentially for another four years.

Decision could impact Gerrard’s Aston Villa future

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has long been tipped to replace Klopp once the German leaves Anfield, and back in December, Klopp said Gerrard will “definitely” manage Liverpool one day, although he stressed it will need to be the right time.

Asked whether the Aston Villa manager will manage Liverpool in the future, Klopp told Sky Sports back in December: “Yes, absolutely I think [he will].

“The only problem is, is when is the right moment for that? We saw that with Frank [Lampard] with his time at Chelsea, which was a similar story.

“Stevie’s doing really well at the moment because he’s very young for a manager so when is the right moment for him to take the job? It’s not that he’s not able to do it but how long he wants to do it.

“But yes, I think it will definitely happen and it’s good for everybody.

“I don’t know what you have to do to become a Liverpool manager. People say you have to win things but I’m not sure about that. I think it’s more important that you win things when you are here.

“You don’t have to win things in the past and this rubbish about being a proven winner. You can win things in the past but never win something again.

“Everything what Stevie has done so far looks good and is going absolutely in the right direction.

“I can’t see a scenario where I will be involved in that decision to be honest, but who knows what the future brings? We will see.”

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