Jamie Carragher believes Roberto De Zerbi is the new favourite for the Liverpool job after reports Ruben Amorim was 'unlikely' to replace Jurgen Klopp at Anfield

Jamie Carragher believes Roberto De Zerbi is the new favourite to become Liverpool boss after reports claimed Ruben Amorim's move to Anfield was unlikely.

With Jurgen Klopp to step down at the end of the season and end his trophy-laden nine-year spell, the Reds are continuing their search for his successor.

The process is being spearheaded by incoming sporting director Richard Hughes, who will officially take up his position working under Michael Edwards this summer after being headhunted by FSG's CEO of Football and lured from Bournemouth.

Sporting Lisbon's Amorim was widely believed to be the standout candidate to succeed Klopp but The Athletic have now poured cold water on the speculation, with a new report instead linking the highly-rated 39-year-old with West Ham.

That has sparked fresh talk after the apparent hammer blow for Anfield figures and the likes of De Zerbi, Arne Slot and Gary O'Neil - a close associate of both Hughes and Edwards - have recently been name-dropped on social media. 

But Carragher, who took to X to share his thoughts on the bombshell news, singled out De Zerbi as the most likely replacement for Klopp for one specific reason.

'Richard Hughes wanted De Zerbi at Bournemouth, so he must be the favourite if this is true,' Carragher, a legendary former Reds defender, said.

Mail Sport understands Hughes did indeed want to appoint De Zerbi at Vitality Stadium, only for Brighton to beat them in sealing the Italian's signature.

De Zerbi has drawn plaudits for his eye-catching job at Brighton, having taken them into Europe for the first time and guided them to the Europa League last-16. 

He also secured the Seagulls a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League last season. 

This campaign has been less straightforward, however, with Brighton currently 10th.

Liverpool sources have not yet denied that Amorim is out of the running for the job and the in-demand head coach would be available for £12.8million.

'I'll say it again: I'm Sporting's coach,' Amorim recently said, playing down the rumours linking him to Merseyside. 'There was no interview with any club, no agreement with any club. I am focused, as always, on defending my club.' 

Reports in Portugal incorrectly claimed Amorim had struck an agreement with Liverpool and those close to Liverpool played this down, instead insisting that he had been just one name on a lengthy shortlist of potential candidates. 

Mail Sport understands Amorim's representatives have held talks with West Ham, who have also spoken to former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui's camp.