Odds slashed on Jose Mourinho to be next Liverpool manager as Fabrizio Romano provides major update

Odds have been slashed on Jose Mourinho taking over from Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager this summer.

Klopp will leave his role at the end of the season after a near nine-year spell in charge at Anfield.

Since his announcement at the end of January, a plethora of top-level managers have been linked with taking the job.

They include Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso, but the Spaniard publicly announced last month that he would be remaining at his current club. Leverkusen have recently lifted the Bundesliga title for the first time in their history.

Liverpool have also been linked with possible moves for Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim and Bayern Munich's Thomas Tuchel, with the latter leaving his current role at the end of the current season.

However, The Athletic report that Amorim to Liverpool is appearing to be 'unlikely', with West Ham also keen on appointing him if they part company with David Moyes.

And Fabrizio Romano posted on Tuesday: "Ruben Amorim returned to Portugal after meeting West Ham board in London on Monday.

"West Ham presented their project and will insist for Amorim; nothing done yet, while discussions with Liverpool are on standby. Amorim will discuss his future steps with his agents."

Now, Mourinho's odds have been cut dramatically - to the point where he is now joint-fourth favourite (via Betfair) at 12/1 to accept what would be a stunning offer to become the new Liverpool manager.

Amorim remains 15/8 favourite, while Arne Slot (4/1) and Roberto De Zerbi (5/1) are also leading contenders.

Slot's odds have since increased after reports emerged that he was Liverpool's 'top target' for the role.

A move to Anfield for Mourinho would see him manage his fourth Premier League club, having taken charge of Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham.

He was of keen interest to Liverpool in 2004, with the Reds even agreeing a deal with the Portuguese to become their new manager.

But Liverpool asked Mourinho to wait before officially confirming him as manager, with the popular Gerard Houllier still in charge at the time. Chelsea swooped in and managed to get a deal done, with the Reds appointing Rafael Benitez instead.

Twenty years on, the 61-year-old was spotted in the stands during Liverpool's 3-1 win over Fulham on Sunday.

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In an interview with The Telegraph on Monday, Mourinho mentioned that he had not been on the shortlist to replace Klopp, but stated: "The only thing I want [from any new club] is that the targets and the objectives have to be established by everyone in a fair way.

"What I am saying is people [should] look at me the way they look at others. What is important for me is if the club has objectives and for me to be able to say, 'I am ready to fight for these'.

"I don't want to say realistic, but semi-realistic. Because when I went to Roma, nobody was dreaming about European cup finals, and we did it.

"It's not possible I go to a club almost relegated and the objective is to win the Champions League. It's good but it is not fair."

On Wednesday, Mourinho's odds to begin a third stint at Chelsea also increased, and he is now the leading contender to replace Mauricio Pochettino following the Blues' 5-0 defeat at Arsenal on Tuesday evening.