Jurgen Klopp is a big admirer of current Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi.

The Liverpool boss has announced he is to step down from the Anfield hot seat at the end of this season.

De Zerbi is high on the early list of candidates to replace him, based purely on the bookies’ odds.

He has enjoyed two wins and two draws in four head-to-head meetings with Liverpool since arriving in England.

Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is the outright favourite and his current club Bayer Leverkusen have said they would not stand in his way this summer if he wanted to move on.

De Zerbi is hugely committed to his Albion project and is leading the club through the best, most exciting period in their history.

Klopp and De Zerbi have struck up a relationship of mutual admiration during their time as Prem rivals.

The Liverpool chief moved in to calm De Zerbi down during a 2-2 draw this season.

Klopp admitted after that match: “I have to say, I cannot respect more what he is doing. Honestly, I’m a real supporter of it.

“I’m a football lover and if someone comes in [like him] and the impact he has on football [it] should not be underestimated.

“The moment when he got a bit outraged, I used my age and tried to calm him down.

“I had no clue what they were talking about, I just saw and if I’m in a moment like this, there is a point of not coming back. I think he was close to that.

“I tried to calm him down. I’m not sure if he needed it or not, you can ask him.

“He told me something about a penalty, but I have no clue what he was talking about. I think he wanted a penalty. But I couldn’t say anything about it because I didn’t remember.”