How would Real Madrid line up under Jurgen Klopp?

Stuart Telford

• 17 Feb 2023 11:46 GMT
• 4 min read

Real Madrid have reportedly sounded Jurgen Klopp out about the possibility of succeeding Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu. How would los Blancos line up under the Liverpool manager?

Publicly, Klopp is set to remain at Anfield to oversee a Liverpool rebuild after enduring his worst ever Premier League season as their manager, the Reds sitting ninth, 19 points off Manchester City's table-topping pace.

But Spanish outlet El Nacional recently reported that "talks had taken place" between the German's representatives and Real chairman Florentino Perez, who has a long-standing admiration for the former Borussia Dortmund and Mainz man.

READ: Real Madrid make surprise approach for Liverpool boss Klopp

Carlo Ancelotti's future at Real looks uncertain, meanwhile. The Spanish and European champions trail leaders Barcelona by eight points at the top of La Liga this season, and the Italian has been linked with the vacant Brazil manager's job as he approaches his 64th birthday.

What might a Klopp-led Real Madrid look like?

Klopp's preferred formation is a 4-3-3, as is Real's, so the Spanish giants already have the perfect personnel to plug into his preferred system - for the most part.

Karim Benzema is likely to lead the line next season, the 35-year-old Ballon d'Or winner still enjoying the trust of his employers and only needing to perform at the top level for another year before Brazilian prodigy Endrick arrives from Palmeiras.

READ: Real Madrid preparing to axe at least one major star

Vinicius Junior is untouchable on the left flank, but on the right, Federico Valverde, Rodrygo and Marco Asensio have shared playing time. Klopp favourite Mo Salah could solve that conundrum.

A Liverpool legend, he has struggled to scale the same heights this term - as have most of his Reds teammates - but he remains a world class winger, while next summer is perhaps the latest Liverpool can cash in for maximum profit. Salah reportedly had dinner with PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and could be open to a move.

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In midfield, Klopp would find players that have been the envy of the rest of world football - including Liverpool - even if Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are coming to the end. The Reds previously scouted Aurelien Tchouameni while they had a €100 million bid for Valverde turned down last summer.

Alongside them might well be Jude Bellingham. Liverpool, Real and Manchester City are understood to be at the front of the queue for the Englishman's services, a player who has already captained Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League at 19. Klopp moving to Real could see Bellingham follow in short order, his presence part of the appeal at Liverpool.

Further back, Real are set to re-sign their former left-back Fran Garcia from Rayo Vallecano next summer to provide cover for Ferland Mendy, but Klopp might continue with the recent conversion of midfielder Eduardo Camavinga if Jonathan Milner's experience at Anfield is anything to go by.