Liverpool step up pursuit of Sporting CP boss and Chelsea target Ruben Amorim as Reds continue search for Jurgen Klopp's successor

Club representatives were in Lisbon on Thursday to watch Amorim's Sporting beat Benfica 2-1 in the first leg of the Taca de Liga semi-finals, writes the The Mirror. The report adds the Reds are carrying out further 'due diligence' on the 39-year-old, despite Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso being installed as the favourite, ahead of German national team boss JulianNagelsmann, to replace Klopp this summer.

Liverpool have won seven major trophies under Klopp in his Anfield tenure, most recently a Carabao Cup triumph over Chelsea last month, and replacing him will be a very difficult task. He will be seen as one of the club's greatest managers and whoever succeeds him has big shoes to fill.

Amorim's Sporting side currently sit second in the Portuguese top-flight but can leapfrog rivals Benfica if they beat Farense on Sunday evening. During his time as manager, Sporting have won the league once, the Taca da Liga twice, and they are in the last 16 of the Europa League this season.

Liverpool will continue to step up their search to find a replacement for Klopp, who is stepping down at the end of the season. Alonso is reportedly the preferred choice but Bayern Munich are also interested in him and he may yet stay at the German outfit.