Jurgen Klopp for the Kop if Liverpool axe Brendan Rodgers, and Edinson Cavani's move to England may not happen

• Jurgen Klopp being lined up as a potential replacement at Anfield
• Brendan Rodgers under pressure after a poor start to the season
• Liverpool are 18 points behind Chelsea and out of Champions League
• Edinson Cavani's move to the Premier League may not go ahead
• Uruguayan's transfer fee and wages could be too much in January
• Arsenal are likely to part ways with Arsene Wenger if they do not win the Premier League or Champions League this season
• West Ham set to make a move for Liverpool right back Glen Johnson 

By Rob Shepherd for MailOnline Follow @@robshepherd5

Published: 18:30 EST, 13 December 2014 | Updated: 19:19 EST, 14 December 2014

Jurgen Klopp has emerged as a leading contender for the Liverpool job if the Anfield hierarchy decide to axe Brendan Rodgers.

There are those at Liverpool who feel Rodgers deserves time to come through the current crisis, especially after coming so close to the Premier League title in May, and that he should be allowed the rest of the season at least.

But names are being bandied about the Anfield corridors of power and Klopp is frequently mentioned. Remarkably, another is former Chelsea and Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas, who is currently in charge of Russian club Zenit St Petersburg.

Jurgen Klopp is being lined up as a potential replacement as Liverpool manager

Brendan Rodgers has come under pressure after a poor first half of the season for Liverpool

Hertha Berlin 1-0 Borussia Dortmund match highlights

There are some fans who would love to see Rafa Benitez, currently at Napoli, return to Anfield and work under a new regime. It is not out of the question.

There will also be a lobby for ex-player turned pundit Jamie Carragher to take over the reins, with the help of Steven Gerrard in a player-coach role.

Certainly going into Sunday's match at Manchester United the pressure is mounting on Rodgers, especially as he is now suffering criticism from Liverpool's "extended family".

In the wake of the 1-1 draw with Basle that saw Liverpool eliminated from the Champions League, the overly cautious tactics of Rodgers were condemned by former Liverpool boss Roy Evans, not one to usually offer stinging sound bites.

Rodgers' Liverpool side take on rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday

Other ex-Liverpool players have started to chip away at Rodgers, who is beginning to lose the faith of Anfield fans.

It is increasingly felt that Rodgers did not deal wisely in the transfer market following the sale of Luis Suarez and there have even been rumours of a rift between the manager and skipper Gerrard.

Some will even argue that Rodgers failed to guide Liverpool through the final few furlongs last season when the title seemed in the bag.

Given the cost of re-developing Anfield, a manager of Klopp's calibre and experience in having made Borussia Dortmund punch above their weight in Germany on limited resources would attract the Liverpool board.

Napoli manager Rafa Benitez has been suggested for a return to Liverpool, where he managed for six years

The fact that Dortmund have had a terrible start to this season and are at the foot of the Bundesliga would seem a blip and a consequence of the club selling too many of its best players and with others still in the squad, like Manchester United and Arsenal target Mats Hummels and Real Madrid bound Marco Reus, on their way out.

Headlines of 'Klopp for the Kop' could well go into overdrive if Liverpool get badly beaten at Old Trafford on Sunday. 

The most hyped transfer saga in the forthcoming transfer window is likely to be surrounding Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani.

But it could well come to nothing.

Cavani has recently been linked with Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham, but it would seem that most of the noise is being stirred by Cavani's camp and his agent Claudi Anelluci.

It is reported that Cavani is not happy at playing in a wide role in Paris and playing second fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Edinson Cavani is unhappy with his role in Paris and playing second fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic

But PSG have progressed into the Champions League knock-out phase and are unlikely to want to sell. On top of that, Cavani's potential fee and wages are likely to prove extreme for a Premier League club midway through the season.

It smacks of just how Radamel Falcao ended up at Manchester United. A player and his agent forcing through a move rather than being "chased" by a Premier League club.

Football Grapevine sources tell us that Arsenal will review Arsene Wenger's position at the end of the season despite him being only halfway through a three-year deal.

And it is understood that unless Arsenal win the Premier League or Champions League this season there will be a parting of ways.

Former player then scout, Remi Garde, who left Lyon at the end of last season, is a strong contender despite only being ranked as a 20-1 shot.

Arsene Wenger's position as Arsenal manager will be under threat if they fail to win silverware this season

Arsene Wenger speaks about abuse he received from fans (Archive)

But Football Grapevine understands that Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis could see current Ajax boss Frank de Boer, with assistant Denis Bergkamp, as a potential dream ticket, which could also include a shake up of backroom staff that might see Thierry Henry and Sol Campbell return.

John Ruddy is set to quit Norwich in January.

Goalkeeper Ruddy has lost his place in the England squad and knows he needs to be back in the Premier League to force his way back into Roy Hodgson's plans.

Liverpool and Crystal Palace are two clubs interested.

John Ruddy is set to quit Norwich in an attempt to force his way back into Roy Hodgson's England plans

AC Milan are thinking of taking Arsenal's Costa Rican forward Joel Campbell on loan in January.

West Ham are considering an end-of-season move for Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson.

There seems little chance of Johnson agreeing a new deal with Liverpool, where his current contract ends in the summer.

Johnson has options abroad, but a move back to the Hammers, where he started his career before moving to Chelsea, attracts the 30-year-old.

Glen Johnson could be heading for West Ham with his Liverpool contract up at the end of the season

Johnson started his career in east London before moving to Stamford Bridge to join Chelsea

West Ham are keen to sign up Carl Jenkinson on a permanent deal from Arsenal

West Ham would like to sign Carl Jenkinson, currently on loan from Arsenal, on a permanent deal by the end of the season. But they feel Arsenal's £8milion asking price is too high.

Former England international Johnson could, though, sign a pre-contract with an overseas club this January. Roma are interested, as are their Serie A rivals Napoli.

As revealed here last week, Liverpool are interested in striker Jackson Martinez.

The Colombian's agent admitted that midweek following our story and Tottenham remain interested too.

But AC Milan could move in now they want to send on-loan Fernando Torres back to Chelsea.

Veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is wanted by Newcastle.

Schwarzer, 42, is now third choice at Chelsea and is set to move to the north east.

But he could also move to Norwich if the East Anglian club offload Ruddy. 

Veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer (left) could be set for a move to either Newcastle or Norwich

UEFA has appointed Dutch legend Clarence Seedorf as the global ambassador for diversity and change. Michel Platini introduced Seedorf at a ceremony in Amsterdam at the Olympic Stadium.

The role for Seedorf will, according to UEFA, include more than shaking hands and turning up at media-driven events, in that he will be involved in the creation of UEFA anti-discrimination and diversity 'initiatives that can be introduced at UEFA, both institutionally and in competitions.'

The former Ajax, AC Milan and Holland midfielder was a familiar face in this country during last summer's World Cup with his role as a TV pundit. 

I AM HEARING 

A combination of pressure from US TV companies and sponsors, plus the lobby of FIFPRO (the international players union) will mean that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar would have to be played in November and December, if FIFA move the tournament to the winter. 

January is a no go for American companies as it would clash with the NFL play-offs and possibly the Super Bowl, which usually takes place in early February.

I understand the players union feel a November-December tournament is feasible with temperatures at that time of the year around 25 Celsius. But they are still concerned about health issues for players and fans given that the desert heat is far more debilitating than hot summer days in Europe or South America. There also remains big infrastructure issues for teams and fans.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar could take place in November and December if moved from summer to winter

US companies would want to avoid a clash with the NFL play-offs and Super Bowl in January and February

And a November-December date would potentially throw the schedule of European leagues and the Champions League into chaos.

If FIFA move the 2022 World Cup to the winter then they could face legal action from TV companies and sponsors that the original terms of the deals struck were no longer valid. That could force a re-vote of a decision currently subject to allegations of corruption.

I AM ALSO HEARING 

Former head of the Chilean Football Association Harold–Mayne Nicholls, one of the FIFA officials 'under investigation' in the wake of the Michael Garcia report into allegations of corruption, is considering standing against Sepp Blatter for FIFA president.

BTW

There were some who wondered last June why the kick-off of England's friendly against Honduras in Florida last June was delayed 'just because of a thunderstorm'.

But it is too easy to neglect the dangers of electric storms in open spaces.

Last week a Peruvian player Joao Contreras and a linesman were both struck by lightning during a cup semi-final.

Both were rushed to hospital suffered nasty burns, but thankfully have recovered.

For those who know their football history it was a reminder of the terrible fate one of the star players of Tottenham's fabled 1961 Double side, John White, suffered.

Three years later at the age of 27 and while still a Spurs player, White was killed when struck by lightning as he took cover under a tree during a thunderstorm while playing golf in Enfield.

England's World Cup warm up against Honduras in Miami was delayed due to lightning storms

I SAY 

It would be best for Liverpool if Steven Gerrard moves on at the end of the season, if not before.

Whether or not Brendan Rodgers remains manager, Liverpool have to draw a line under being so reliant on Stevie G.

The loss of Luis Suarez is of course a major factor in Liverpool's decline in form this season, But so is the presence of Gerrard.

As good a player as he can still be in phases, he no longer has the energy to be the team's talisman for the full 90 minutes.

The trouble is too many players in the team still seem to be waiting for him to be the Roy of the Rovers, like he did for so many years.

Steven Gerrard's Liverpool future is in doubt as he has yet to sign a new contract at Anfield

Gerrard scored a stunning free-kick against Basle in the Champions League, but Liverpool were eliminated

Certainly those around him appear inhibited, afraid even, to pick up the cudgel.

And because so much play still goes through Gerrard the pace and tempo is constantly slowed down because he is slower than he was.

The Gerrard lobby will point to the excellent free-kick he scored late on in the 1-1 draw with Basle as proof the Liverpool skipper is still worth his place.

But players with that technique could go on scoring set-pieces like that until they are 50. Only last week Alessandro del Piero, once the star of Juventus and Italy, struck a pearler in the Indian Super League. Del Piero, 40, is still good enough for the Dehli Dynamos but not Juve.

What they can't do is pull the strings and turn big games like they used to. 

Gerrard would be far better winding down a playing career elsewhere, probably abroad. His departure might then see some of the other players step out of his shadow. Liverpool as a club need to look forward, not keep clutching at the past. 

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