Germany are reportedly closing in on a managerial change after their disappointing FIFA World Cup campaign, with former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp emerging as the leading candidate to replace Julian Nagelsmann.
According to German tabloid Bild, Nagelsmann met officials from the German Football Association (DFB) on Thursday and was offered a severance package worth €7 million following the national team’s shock Round of 32 elimination to Paraguay.
The 38-year-old’s contract, which was renewed in January 2025, runs until 2028, although reports in Germany estimate he earns around €7 million annually.
Germany’s defeat to Paraguay extended a worrying trend for one of international football’s traditional powerhouses. It marked the country’s third consecutive early exit from a World Cup after group stage eliminations in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.
It was also Germany’s first appearance in the knockout stages since lifting the World Cup trophy in Brazil in 2014, making Monday’s exit another significant setback for the four-time world champions.
READMORE: Molde confirm Daniel Daga’s acquittal as Flying Eagles star cleared in sexual assault appeal
The fallout began almost immediately after the defeat, with DFB president Bernd Neuendorf announcing an internal review into the team’s World Cup failure.
A final decision on Nagelsmann’s future is expected no later than the beginning of next week, according to AFP’s sports subsidiary SID.
Several German media outlets, including Sky Germany and Süddeutsche Zeitung, have identified Klopp as the overwhelming favorite to succeed Nagelsmann should the dismissal be confirmed.
Klopp has been away from frontline coaching since leaving Liverpool in 2024 after an acclaimed spell at Anfield that delivered both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles.
LICK HERE TO JOIN ATHLETIC NG WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW!
The 59-year-old currently serves as Red Bull’s Head of Global Football, overseeing the company’s international football operations across clubs in Germany, Austria, Brazil, the United States and Japan.
