Jurgen Klopp is likely to leave Real Madrid disappointed if the Spanish club part ways with Carlo Ancelotti and pursue him to take over.
With the Spanish champions dumped out of the Champions League by Arsenal and scrambling to stay close to Barcelona in LaLiga, it appears as though the veteran Italian is coming to the end of his tenure.
And Klopp, who left Liverpool after last season, is understood to be among the front-runners for the role at the Bernabeu, should it become vacant.
President Florentino Perez, 78, could also move on and one of the favourites to replace him, Anas Laghari, has earmarked Klopp as his dream candidate, according to the Telegraph.
But they report that the German is happy with his job as head of global football for Red Bull, overseeing their six clubs, and has no plans to jump ship for the full throttle world of management at a top club.
The exhaustion, stress and relentlessness of life as Liverpool boss, in addition to becoming a grandfather for the first time led him to make the decision to leave Anfield after nine successful years.
Jurgen Klopp, pictured watching RB Leipzig, took a job with Red Bull back in January
Carlo Ancelotti is expected to leave Real Madrid in the summer amid a disappointing season
So the equally high-pressure position at Real, where there is less patience that on Merseyside, may not appeal.
Klopp might never return to club management again and was widely expected to take an international job before Red Bull signed him up in January.
The German national side and England appeared to be his most natural homes but both are covered for the upcoming World Cup, with Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel in situ.
Klopp has already travelled to Japan and Brazil as part of his new job and the energy drinks company also have teams in Europe and New York.
It will be a test of Klopp’s resolve after the 2026 World Cup when more positions become available.
And he has never fully insisted he will not take the helm of a club again, instead saying he wanted to take a prolonged break from the dugout.
Last year, he said: ‘I work, but not what I did before. I’m not just lying around, although sometimes I am. I don’t miss anything.
‘Other top coaches won’t be doing this forever either. The next generation is already out there. At some point, it will be up to them to start developing and changing football.
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‘There are already a lot of people from back then who are getting a taste of it. And more are coming because they’re that age now. I’m really happy to watch them. And if I can help them with advice and support, I’m happy to do so. They probably think that after working with me for a while: If he can do it, we can do it too. It can’t be that difficult.’
Having won every trophy with Liverpool during his tenure, he also left the Reds well set up for his successor Arne Slot.
They are on the brink of winning the Premier League at a canter having been rebuild, particularly in midfield, by Klopp in his final campaign.
Real, meanwhile, face serious questions about the balance of the team with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr both operating at their best on the left flank.
The listless exit against Arsenal has brought a great clarity to the situation and they now face the prospect of ending the season as runners-up to Barcelona in LaLiga and the Copa del Rey.
