Liverpool have held talks with representatives of Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim, talkSPORT understands.
Amorim has made it clear he is keen to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, with the German leaving at the end of the season.
The Reds are due to carry out a formal interview process this month.
Xabi Alonso was the leading contender for the role amid an impressive season with Bayer Leverkusen, who are unbeaten.
However, the former Liverpool midfielder pulled himself out of the running by committing his future to Leverkusen.
Since then, Amorim has quickly emerged as the new frontrunner for the job ahead of the summer.
The 39-year-old has Sporting sitting top of Liga Portugal and four points ahead of rivals Benfica with a game in hand, and won the league title with them in 2021.
Barcelona and Bayern Munich have also held interest, with Xavi and Thomas Tuchel both leaving their respective clubs this summer.
Amorim recently admitted he couldn’t guarantee he would stay at Sporting amid the ongoing speculation over his future.
Chelsea also held previous interest in his services, with the former midfielder now one of the hottest managerial prospects.
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Liverpool were also reportedly keen on Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi but appear to have moved away from the Italian.
German national team boss Julian Nagelsmann has also been linked, with the Reds eyeing top names for their next appointment.
Whoever next takes the role at Anfield will have huge shoes to fill following the immense success under Klopp since 2015.
He has won every major trophy, including the Premier League and the Champions League, since he took over and reignited the club as one of the best in English football.
Klopp has established himself as a club legend on Merseyside and is now heading into his final run of games as boss, with another Premier League title up for grabs.
They next face Atalanta in the quarter-finals of the Europa League on Thursday night, live on talkSPORT.
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