Jose Mourinho would be 'unfazed' by replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool

Dietmar Hamann believes former Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs manager, Jose Mourinho, could be the best person to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in the summer.

Much has been made of who will follow as Klopp's successor following the German's shock announcement to leave Anfield at the end of the season following nine years at the club's helm.

Bayer Leverkusen manager and Reds icon Xabi Alonso was the initial favourite to replace Klopp before deciding to extend his stay in Germany after winning the Bundesliga title.

Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorin - who has also been linked with West Ham - has also been discussed as another option, but former Liverpool player Dietmarr Hamann feels Mourinho could also be another potential option.

The 61-year-old is currently a free agent after being sacked by Roma in January and has expressed a keen desire to return to football management as soon as possible.

Mourinho previously enjoyed Premier League title success with Chelsea and delivered European honours at Man United but struggled in his last stint managing in England at Tottenham.

Hamann has warned Liverpool to expect a tough period following Klopp's immediate departure but stressed Mourinho - who watched Liverpool win at Craven Cottage on Sunday - would be 'unfazed' by succeeding him.

'That's a valid point. I love Mourinho. He won't be fazed by following Klopp. There might be managers who turn the job down that say 'this is my dream job but to follow Klopp is just impossible',' Hamann said via GOAL.

'We have seen what happened at Manchester United with Fergie, when he left. The more I think about it, the more I can see it happening for one or two seasons.

'Clubs make these five and eight-year plans and the manager is gone after six months, so it's a day-to-day business and you don't know what's going to happen in three years.

'If you bring him in and say 'blood the youngsters in, if you finish sixth next season that's all good because in one or two years we have got a really good team with a lot of home-grown players', then it's fine.

'But it doesn't make sense to bring someone in for the next five years, sign players for 100-odd million and then finish fifth or sixth – that's unacceptable,' he added.

Klopp has delivered nine major honours during his illustrious Liverpool career including ending the wait for a first Premier League title and a sixth Champions League trophy.

Mourinho similarly became Premier League champion three times on two separate occasions at Chelsea along with the FA Cup and a further Europa League title with Man United.

His other successes in European management make him an ideal candidate to follow Klopp at Liverpool, as Hamann stated: 'You need someone who is big enough not to be fazed by the fact of following Klopp – someone who is successful and loved by the people, not only in the football club but also in the city.

'From that point of view, the more I think it might not be the worst choice. But you have to tell him that the youngsters have to play some part. I'm sure if they are good enough, then he will look at them and give them playing time,' he added.