Forget Ruben Amorim - Liverpool's perfect next manager is much closer to home

All that’s left to do is cross the i’s and dot the t’s. Assuming we don’t fall foul of some profound rip in the fabric of the cosmos or Godzilla doesn’t rise up out of the Mersey and lay waste to us all between now and the beginning of summer, the overwhelming likelihood seems to be that Ruben Amorim will become the next Liverpool manager.

At the time of writing, various reports would have you believe that the Reds have already reached an agreement in principle with the Sporting CP coach. There is widespread talk of a three-year contract in the offing, even as sobering caveats reiterate that no deal has been struck between his current employers and those in charge of the recruitment process at Anfield. Nevertheless, some bookmakers have shortened his odds to a frankly miniscule 1/5, and a quick Google search of his name would suggest that his arrival is, to all intents and purposes, a foregone conclusion.

That being said, there are cracks in the narrative. According to Sky Sports, sources on Merseyside claim that these recent reports are ‘wholly inaccurate’, stressing that Liverpool are undertaking a ‘thorough process around a number of candidates’, with no concrete frontrunner identified at this stage. Of course, there is every chance that this is deliberate misdirection - a cautious facade designed to restrain expectations - but if taken at face value, there is at least the hint of a sliver of a doubt.

And if, for whatever reason, Amorim does not end up at Anfield this summer, then Liverpool are going to require an alternative. Allow us to once again tap the sign that reads: ‘Roberto de Zerbi would probably be a very good option if push comes to shove’.

The Italian continues to work minor wonders for Brighton and Hove Albion; the kind of wonders that may not win trophies or always make for sensational headlines, but that nonetheless represent impressive feats which keep one of the most cannily operated clubs in the Premier League constantly competitive.

Indeed, it feels like only a matter of time before De Zerbi, like so many of Albion’s assets before him, is poached by one of the bigger boys in the division - and if and when that does happen, he will be thoroughly deserving of his shot. Since succeeding Graham Potter on the South Coast, the 44-year-old has cultivated a style of play that is pragmatically effective without ever properly sacrificing its notable principles or aesthetic value. If there is a criticism of Brighton, it is that they are frequently lacking in a consistent focal point in attack who can convert their abundant promise into goals and points. Otherwise, there aren’t many sides in English football who are as well coached or as pleasing to watch.

The general feeling, then, is that were De Zerbi to be afforded a higher calibre of talent, his silverware potential would grow accordingly. At Anfield, with the dressing room he would inherit and the spending power Liverpool possess, there is no reason to believe that he couldn’t make a positive mark on Merseyside.

Then there is the human factor. Whoever takes over in the aftermath of Jurgen Klopp’s departure is stepping into the vacuum left by one of the most beloved and charismatic managers in Liverpool’s entire history. A meek figure may wilt under that kind of implied pressure, even if they are tactically watertight. But De Zerbi would presumably have no such problem. He may not be as animated or expressive as Klopp, but there is, as they say, more than one way to skin a cat. Figuratively speaking.

The Italian cuts an affable figure, but one who is evidently a deep thinker and, perhaps more importantly still, a great communicator. De Zerbi is a character, it just so happens that his is a persona that stops short of bear-hugging passers-by and fist-pumping in front of raucous away ends. A slight change in dynamic might not be the worst thing in the world either; the last thing Liverpool should be looking to do is to replace Jurgen with a kind of ‘Klopp Lite’.

And in fairness, it doesn’t feel as if they are trying to; if they do bring in Amorim, as expected, then it will surely herald a new era for the club. Should the Portuguese manager evade their grasp, however, the Reds could do far, far worse than Roberto de Zerbi.