- Jurgen Klopp’s assistant is keen to strike out on his own after Anfield exit
- The Dutchman has also attracted interest from Eredivisie side Ajax last month
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Besiktas are reportedly eyeing a move for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s assistant head coach Pep Lijnders, according to reports.
Lijnders is set to leave Anfield at the end of the season alongside his current boss with Liverpool set to carry out a staffing overhaul in preparation for their next manager.
While the Reds remain without a manager to takeover from their talismanic German head coach as things stand, Ljinders has attracted a number of admiring glances across Europe.
Last month, Mail Sport reported that the 46-year-old could be tipped to take over in Amsterdam, with Ajax thought to be keen on luring Ljinders to move on from the club dismal 2023-24 campaign under interim boss John van’t Schip .
But Lijnders could yet continue his career in the Turkish Super Lig, after overtures from one of the nation’s top sides.
As per the Athletic, the Turkish club rate Lijnders highly, and the Dutchman is believed to be on their shortlists of targets to take over from sacked head coach Fernando Santos.
Lijnders is not thought to be in consideration to take over from Klopp on Merseyside, and his exit alongside his boss will call time on a decline at the Premier League club after he first took up the role of under-16s coach.
The coach did briefly leave the club in 2018 for a five-month stint with Dutch side NEC Nijmegen, but later returned to take up the mantle of assistant manager under Klopp.
Lijnders stated in February that ending his tenure in Liverpool alongside the former Borussia Dortmund manager marks a fitting end to his career as a No 2 in the dugout.
‘I really believe that it’s a natural progression,’ Lijnders said of his desire for the top job.
‘I always said I will finish with Jurgen – I will not assist anyone else, that’s the moment I will go and manage. ‘We end this project together that we started.’
Klopp and his assistant will look to end their time at the club on a high, with two competitions still in play – the Europa League, and the Premier League.
Liverpool will continue their cup contest on Thursday evening as they attempt to battle back from a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Atalanta in Bergamo.
They return to league duty on Sunday with a must-win game against Fulham at Craven Cottage, after shock defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield last weekend left them trailing two points off table-toppers Manchester City.
