Speculation in Italy over Klopp coaching return at Roma

Italian newspaper La Stampa has speculated that Jürgen Klopp will return to the dugout as Roma coach.

Since leaving Liverpool last year, the German has often said he is not ready to coach again. He is now global head of soccer at Red Bull, a job which has not gone well so far with their main team RB Leipzig missing Europe for the first time as a Bundesliga club.

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He has also had to watch Arne Slot ease to the Premier League title in his first season at Liverpool.

La Stampa went as far as to say that Klopp had a phone call with Roma's American owner Dan Friedkin late on Sunday and said "Yes."

The paper used the headline "Habemus mister" in a playful reference to the recent election of a new pope.

Even Italy's main news agency ANSA reported on La Stampa's story. La Stampa is well respected but based in Turin. The Rome sports paper Corriere dello Sport did not carry the story.

If the story is true then it would be remarkable about-face for Klopp, 57. He has been heavily criticized by football purists for joining the football empire run by the energy drinks firm.

Roma are looking for a coach with club icon Claudio Ranieri stepping down after an interim spell in charge. The Giallorossi are fifth in Serie A with one game left and last won the title in 2001.