Saturday, 26th June 2010

With the English press reporting that Roy Hodgson is all set to become the new Liverpool manager interesting news has emerged about The Reds approaching current Marseille boss Didier Deschamps.

Deschamps is highly rated on the continent for having performed the thankless task of guiding Juventus out of Serie B and last season the Frenchman bagged the Ligue 1 title with Marseille. It comes as little surprise therefore that Liverpool are considering him as a possible successor to Rafael Benitez.

"The Liverpool chief executive Christian Purslow called me on Thursday afternoon", said Marseille’s president Jean-Claude Dassier told L’Equipe. "He speaks French very well and was very courteous. I was waiting for the call as the interest of Liverpool had already reached my ears.

"He asked me if I would allow him to meet with Didier [Deschamps] and [his agent] Jean Pierre Bernes. I replied that I had forbid them to meet anyone. I also indicated that there was no room [for negotiation] for anyone to take our coach."

Liverpool were also linked earlier in the week with Galatasaray coach Frank Rijkaard, with sources revealing the Turkish club had refused the Anfield side permission to speak to the Dutchman on no less than three occasions. If Fulham boss Hodgson is to indeed become the new Reds manager, it is becoming clear that the club are not entirely convinced of the 62-year-old’s merits.

It also appears strange that Liverpool would pursue two young coaches in Rijkaard and Deschamps, but then opt for one nearing the end of his career. This suggests the very question of whether an experienced coach or a young gun hungry for success, has not yet been solved at board level.

 

 

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