Sporting boss Ruben Amorim denies agreement with Liverpool to replace Klopp

Sporting manager Ruben Amorim has denied he has reached an agreement with Liverpool over succeeding Jurgen Klopp.

Sky in Germany reported earlier this week the 39-year-old had reached a verbal agreement in principle with Liverpool.

But Amorim has flatly denied those reports and insisted he has not held any interview with Liverpool as he focuses on guiding Sporting to the league title with the club sitting four points clear of Benfica.

The Portuguese boss told a press conference: "This is the last time I'm going to talk about my future. There was no interview and certainly no agreement.

"The only thing we all want here is to be champions with Sporting, nothing will change. I'm the Sporting coach and there was no interview or agreement with any club.

"I'm just focused, as always, on representing my club. As I no longer have anything else to say…

"There will be no interviews or agreements with the Sporting coach. The matter is completely resolved, whether related to this club or another."

Amorim is understood to be one of the leading candidates to become the next Liverpool boss but the process of finding Klopp's successor is ongoing.

Due diligence and background checks are being carried out on a number of candidates but no formal negotiations have started with any candidate.

Liverpool have undergone significant changes in personnel behind the scenes since Klopp's exit announcement, with former sporting director Michael Edwards returning as the chief executive of football.

Richard Hughes will join from Bournemouth as sporting director, while Benfica's Pedro Marques has also been linked with a senior backroom role at Anfield.

Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool midfielder, was strongly linked with a return to the club as Klopp's successor