Get Klopp! Spurs, Man Utd and Barcelona chase German coach

THERE'S nothing quite like a tabloid 'exclusive' for leaving the Great British public flummoxed. Take Tuesday morning and the speculation over the future of Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp. There's no denying he's a sought-after tactician, one of the best coaches in the Bundesliga, who last season took Dortmund to the Champions League final. No surprise, then, that the 46-year-old is expected to move on to a fresh challenge next season.

But where? According to 'exclusive' number one in Tuesday's Sun, Klopp is Tottenham's top target as they look to replace Tim Sherwood for next season, The paper says that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who appointed Sherwood manager of the Lilywhites in December after the dismissal of Andre Villas-Boas, believes Klopp is the man to "revive Spurs' fortunes" after another dismal season in which, barring a minor miracle, they will fail to qualify for the Champions League.

The fact that Klopp recently signed a contract extension with Dortmund until 2018 doesn't appear to have dampened Levy's enthusiasm for the German, not according to the Sun, at least, which reports that Tottenham "would have to pay £20m compensation" to Dortmund in return for their coach.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

But over at the Daily Mirror the general consensus is that Klopp will be moving to Manchester United in the summer. The paper "understands" that the Old Trafford board have all but decided that the "gamble on David Moyes cannot go on" after a disastrous season in which the club not only finished without any silverware but also missed out in qualification for next season's Champions League. Apparently United believe Klopp's "aggressive brand of football and up-front managerial style is exactly what is needed after the debacle of Moyes".

While Klopp might be wary of joining a club who won't be playing in Europe's showcase competition next season, the Mirror says the German could well have his head turned by a summer transfer kitty of £200m, which is what the United board believe is needed to restore the glory times to Old Trafford.

But perhaps both English clubs, not to mention the two tabloids, are whistling in the wind when it comes to the German because according to Spanish rag, Sport, it's Barcelona who are intent on installing Klopp as their new coach. The Spanish club, eliminated from the Champions League last week by Atletico Madrid, will allegedly appoint Klopp in place of Tata Martino at the end of the season.

Confused? Imagine how Klopp feels...