Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has already hinted that 2024 could be too soon for Steven Gerrard to replace him, as reports claim the Reds are set to try and persuade the German to postpone his Anfield exit.
Klopp has revolutionised Liverpool since he was appointed back in 2015. Since then, the former Borussia Dortmund coach has got the Reds fighting for major honours again, and has already assured his place in Merseyside folklore after ending the club's agonising 30-year wait for a domestic title.
The 54-year-old also guided the Reds to another Champions League title back in 2019, while he's currently bidding to bank a historic quadruple this year. Gerrard - who is a legend in his own right on Merseyside - had been tipped as Klopp's successor after he penned a deal until the summer of 2024 with Aston Villa back in November.
That date coincided with Klopp's exit plans, with the Reds chief confirming his plans to walk away at the end of his current deal. However, reports emerged on Thursday morning claiming that Liverpool are hoping to persuade Klopp to renege on those plans - potentially delaying Gerrard's Anfield coronation.
But that might not might a bad thing for Gerrard, who has already received Klopp's seal of approval to replace him in the future. Klopp has already stressed that the timing has to be right before handing Gerrard the reins; citing Frank Lampard's brutal sacking at Chelsea as a warning to the current Villa chief. Lampard was ditched after just 18 months at the helm by his beloved Blues in what was just his second managerial role.
When he asked if Gerrard would take over in the future, Klopp said back in December: "Yes, absolutely I think [he will]. The only problem is, is when is the right moment for that? We saw that with Frank [Lampard] with his time at Chelsea, which was a similar story.
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"Stevie's doing really well at the moment because he's very young for a manager so when is the right moment for him to take the job? It's not that he's not able to do it but how long he wants to do it. But yes, I think it will definitely happen and it's good for everybody."
Although there were never any guarantees that Gerrard would simply saunter back to Anfield in two years time, it remains to be seen when the "right moment" that Klopp has alluded to will come if the anticipated move in 2024 does not materialise.
The 41-year-old has enjoyed moderate success in his first managerial role, winning the Scottish Premier League title with Rangers before impressing in the early days of his Villa reign. It's always been common knowledge that Gerrard's performance between now and Klopp's planned departure would play a major factor in deciding his next move - but Klopp could unexpectedly scupper them by agreeing to postpone his exit plan.
Despite the fact that speculation over him succeeding Klopp has ramped up since his return to the Premier League, Gerrard insisted after taking over at Villa Park that the job was not merely a "stepping stone".
Gerrard said back in November: “You’ll never hear me say it’s a stepping stone. I’m really honoured and proud to be in this position, I’m all in and I’ll give this job everything it needs to be a success. I’ll be 100% committed.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong in football with having dreams and aspirations. But Liverpool have a world-class coach that they’re very happy with and if he was to sign a lifetime deal I would be very happy for them and him.”
