RúBEN AMORIM FLIES HOME AS LIVERPOOL 'NEGOTIATING' AFTER 'NOT POSITIVE' WEST HAM TALKS

Liverpool is 'still negotiating' with Rúben Amorim, despite the Sporting manager's presence in England to talk to West Ham about the potential summer vacancy. It's been claimed that discussions did the London club did not go well.

In fact, according to Pedro Sepúlveda on X, Amorim has already returned home to Lisbon. A photo shows him being met by reporters at the airport, where he 'refused to talk about what he went to to in London'.

But Sepúlveda claims that talks with West Ham were 'not positive', and that 'something went wrong' to prompt such a swift return to Portugal. Sporting has a huge game against Porto on Sunday, so it was presumably never likely to be more than a flying visit (although the team has been given Tuesday and Wednesday off), but a move to the London Stadium appears far from a foregone conclusion.

In the meantime, it's claimed that negotiations with Liverpool are ongoing. The Athletic reported yesterday that a move to Anfield now 'looks unlikely', with Amorim not expected to be the 'preferred candidate' at the end of the process fronted by Michael Edwards and incoming sporting director Richard Hughes. However, Sepúlveda suggests the option remains open.

Liverpool.com says: If nothing else, if West Ham's talks with Amorim really have stalled, it will give Liverpool more time to complete its process and confirm that the 39-year-old will not be the top candidate. In that respect, it's probably true that he at least remains under consideration, and maybe even in some kind of negotiations.

But ultimately, if Liverpool and West Ham were both racing for Amorim's signature, it's pretty clear that Liverpool could win that particular race. It's hard to imagine that it was ever in danger of being 'beaten' to the managerial appointment; a move to the London Stadium might now look in jeopardy, but the fact that the Reds did not act decisively at the first sign of that interest does back up the account that they are likely to look in another direction.

The groundwork has been gently laid for such a decision for a little while now, with an increasing volume of reports suggesting that Edwards and Hughes are ready to eschew the 'popular' choices and go for a more brave and potentially left-field appointment. Arne Slot of Feyenoord is a name doing the rounds, while Roberto De Zerbi continues to be mentioned.

2024-04-23T07:38:08Z dg43tfdfdgfd