Liverpool are continuing to search for Jurgen Klopp’s successor and now Wolves boss Gary O’Neil has had his name thrown in the mix, having impressed in difficult circumstances

Wolves boss Gary O’Neil has been backed to succeed Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager.

O’Neil has earned plaudits this season after taking charge of Wolves just days before the start of their Premier League campaign, having been ruthlessly sacked by Bournemouth. The former West Ham midfielder, 40, kept the Cherries up after a disastrous first half of the season, yet was still replaced last summer.

His reputation has been further enhanced by his good work at Molineux and recent reports suggested that Manchester United are now keen on recruiting O’Neil to be part of current manager Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff. Now amid Liverpool’s ongoing search for a new boss, the Wolves head coach has been tipped to be a candidate.

“I’m going to throw a name at you – I think [Liverpool] need a coach next year more than a manager, so I’m going to say Gary O’Neil,” former Watford striker Troy Deeney told talkSPORT.

“If the rumours are to be believed, three or four of the big players could move on and they could be left with a real young squad. I think it could be a team that needs a younger coach who’s used to working with younger players with not too much expectation to go and win the league. If someone like [Roberto] De Zerbi came in, we’d expect Liverpool to still be in the top four.”

Indeed, Brighton manager De Zerbi and Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim are the two leading candidates, but Deeney is confident that O’Neil has the credentials for the job at hand. Replacing Klopp in the Anfield hot seat would certainly be a much different challenge to the one which he took on at Wolves in August, having been brought in following Julen Lopetegui’s acrimonious exit.

Your turn! Would Gary O’Neil be a wise appointment for Liverpool? Let us know in the comments section.

O’Neil claims that there’s “no truth” in links to Manchester United
(Image: Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty

United’s alleged interest in O’Neil put his name in the spotlight last week, but he claims that there’s no truth to the reports – and gave a nod to Liverpool in his explanation. “I don’t know where it came from,” the 40-year-old replied.

“Growing up, Liverpool and Manchester United always felt special. It’s an honour to be linked even if there’s no truth in it. I love it here. I’m a head coach, I’m always going to be a head coach. I’m really enjoying my time at Wolves. I was only made aware of it [the links] by the media team to prepare for your questions.”

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