Marseille have issued a firm hands-off warning to Liverpool over their interest in boss Didier Deschamps as the Reds look to replace Rafa Benitez (Liverpool 10/1 – Premier League Outright).
Benitez left Anfield earlier in the summer after a poor campaign which saw the Merseysiders fail to produce a strong challenge in either the Premier League or Champions League.
As a result, Liverpool need to appoint a new man with Fulham chief Roy Hodgson heavily linked with the hot seat.
However, Reds executive director Christian Purslow is now examining further options and Deschamps is on his radar.
Marseille president Jean-Claude Dassier told L’Equipe: “I was expecting his call because I had heard of Liverpool’s interest in Didier.
“He asked me if I would allow him to meet Didier and (agent) Jean-Pierre Bernes.
“I replied that I would never forbid anyone from meeting whoever.
“I also kindly indicated to him that there wasn’t the slightest chance for him to pinch our coach. Even in his dreams.”
Deschamps has experience of the Premier League after spending a season with Chelsea following five years with Juventus.
He also led France to a World Cup win in 1998 on home soil and the European Championships title two years later during an international career which earned him 103 caps.
The 41-year-old is the latest in a long line of names linked with Liverpool, with the aforementioned Hodgson said to be in the running along with the likes of Martin O’Neill, Guus Hiddink, Slaven Bilic and Mark Hughes.
Whoever gets the nod will have the double task of reviving Liverpool’s fortunes while also convincing the club’s star players like Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano that there futures lie in the famous red shirt.
The Reds failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League after a disappointing seventh-placed finish in the Premier League while the club’s American co-owners are also looking to sell up as well.
It all points to a crunch season at Liverpool who start their season with a home clash against Arsenal.
The Gunners kicked off last season on Merseyside and promptly hammered Everton 6-1 (Liverpool v Arsenal 8/1 – Opening Day Fixtures – Game With Most Goals).
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