How much would it cost Liverpool to sack Jurgen Klopp?

Robin Bairner

• 5 Apr 2023 11:34 BST
• 3 min read

Liverpool find themselves in a position where they have to consider the previously unthinkable: sacking manager Jurgen Klopp.

Since arriving at Anfield in 2015, Klopp has transformed the Reds from Premier League also-rans to European champions and a side that is perennially expected to challenge for the title. Until recently, he was untouchable.

But Liverpool have hit upon difficult times. They find themselves eighth in the Premier League, seven points off the Champions League spots with 10 matches of the season remaining, and rocking after a three-game winless run.

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On Tuesday, they played out a dire 0-0 draw with Chelsea but were somewhat fortunate to even earn a point after the home side had two goals disallowed.

Already out of the Champions League, having been well beaten by Real Madrid after finishing second in their group, the Anfield side is going into the final weeks of the campaign simply seeking to save face.

The possibility of sacking Klopp has been aired, and even if it is not yet a probability, it is worth considering how much it might cost.

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Klopp’s Liverpool contract

Klopp signed a contract extension in April 2022 that saw his deal with Liverpool extended until 2026. That means he has approximately three years left of his contract at Anfield.

He reportedly earns £15 million per year with the Reds, which means that to buy out the remainder of his deal with Liverpool at the beginning of April would cost approximately £50m.

Such a figure represents an enormous severance pay and potentially one of the biggest in football history.

Chelsea, however, showed with Graham Potter that deals can be done to make payments more manageable for clubs. The ex-Blues boss was sacked with more than four years of his contract at the club remaining, potentially costing £44-52m, but struck a deal that meant the Stamford Bridge outfit did not have to pay the full worth of his contract.

Liverpool would likely attempt to negotiate a similar severance if Klopp was ultimately to leave.