Liverpool are considering Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeneß as one of the potential candidates to replace Arne Slot, according to reports.
The Anfield chiefs are contemplating a potential change in the dugout after a disappointing season that currently sees Liverpool 21 points behind league leaders Arsenal.
While reports suggest that Slot still has the full backing of the board, contrary claims have now emerged, suggesting that Liverpool have started drawing up a list of potential replacements.
Hoeneß is claimed to be among the names highly regarded for his work in Germany, where he has been coaching Stuttgart for the past three years.
Liverpool Considering Sebastian Hoeneß
According to Anfield Index, Hoeneß’ recent success at Stuttgart has placed him onto the radar of top European clubs, while his impressive player development has also been noted.
After guiding Stuttgart to safety in the 2022-23 season, Hoeneß led the club to the Bundesliga top two in the following campaign and secured a ninth-place finish in 2024-25.
This term, Stuttgart sit fourth in the Bundesliga standings, trailing leaders Bayern Munich by 17 points with eight games left.
Under Hoeneß, Stuttgart also lifted the DFB-Pokal in 2024-25 – the club’s first major trophy since 2007.
Stuttgart Stars Excelling Under Hoeneß
Hoeneß has an impressive track record in developing talent, with Stuttgart stars Angelo Stiller, Jamie Leweling and Finn Jeltsch all excelling under his guidance this season.
Following impressive seasons under Hoeneß, several former Stuttgart stars have managed to earn big-money moves already, including strikers Nick Woltemade and Serhou Guirassy.
Woltemade became Newcastle United’s record signing last summer, joining in a deal worth up to £69 million.
Sebastian Hoeneß Tactics Explained
Sebastian Hoeness taking charge of Stuttgart.
Amid Liverpool’s reported interest in Hoeneß, we asked ChatGPT to provide insight into the ‘outstanding’ 43-year-old manager’s tactical system:
Possession-oriented play – His teams control matches with high possession, progressive passing, and patient build-up to dictate tempo and create space.
Flexible formations – Hoeneß switches between 4‑4‑2, 4‑2‑3‑1, and 3‑5‑2, using fluid positional interchanges and overlapping fullbacks to generate overloads.
Aggressive pressing – Employs a mid-to-high press that quickly targets the ball after loss, aiming to disrupt opposition play and launch rapid attacks.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has broken his silence on the decision of the United States to deny entry to Somalian referee Omar Artan ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
There was outrage around the world when it emerged that Artan, the leading official from Africa, would not be allowed to enter the USA, despite having already been granted his visa.
Having arrived at Miami International Airport on a flight from Istanbul, he was informed that he would not be allowed to proceed further due to ‘vetting concerns’, essentially ending any chance of him officiating at the tournament. He had been due to become the first Somalian ever to officiate in any capacity at a World Cup.
Why Omar Artan was Denied Entry to the USA
Omar Artan via omar_artan on Instagram
Fifa initially released a brief statement confirming the news, which read:
“Fifa can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the Fifa World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States.” However, Infantino has now expanded on that brief comment.
In the days since he was denied entry, more details have emerged concerning Artan’s case. The decision to ban him from the US was seemingly made based on the fact that he shares the same name as a leader of the Al Shabab military group.
Artan was denied in Miami for 11 hours and interrogated by officials, before he was allowed to return home to Somalia. Speaking on his arrival back home, the referee stated:
“I’m simply a referee trying to live my dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup. I had all my papers in order, yet I was interrogated for hours, thrown into prison, and then expelled. I think they have a problem with my country.”
Benoit Tessier via Reuters
Despite the controversy and anger surrounding the decision, Infantino gave a bizarrely relaxed answer when he was quizzed on the situation on Wednesday as spoke to reporters at a pre-World Cup news conference, even telling them to “chill” and “relax.”
“It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia. Again, we don’t control everything. We try, we will discuss, we will speak, we will see.
“Sometimes it’s good to chill, relax, we work on everything, we try to solve everything. Sometimes to immediately start screaming and shouting has the opposite effect of finding a solution. Believe me when I tell you, we always try to find solutions.
“But we need to respect we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces. We are a sports organisation.”
Infantino also refused to make any assurances on any repeat of the Artan debacle in future when being asked if he had “lost control” of the tournament.
“You know in 2035 I think, we hope, the women’s World Cup will be in the UK right – there still needs to be a decision but it looks like it.
Would you find it normal that Fifa would dictate to the British government who to let in the country and who not to let in the country?
I don’t know. Maybe you find it normal. I would like personally, on the other side, the reality of the matter is that in every country, there are governments that try to get into the UK, Germany, Switzerland without a visa, try to get a visa if you’re from certain countries, it’s not easy, that’s what I want to say.”
Olivia Buzaglo and Ben Jacobs are live with a special World Cup preview edition of Market Madness, bringing you the latest transfer news alongside expert insight from across the globe.
South American football expert Tim Vickery joins the show to break down the key storylines ahead of the tournament, including:
– The mood in Brazil as they look to end their World Cup drought
– Neymar’s inclusion and current form at Santos
– Argentina’s chances of defending their crown
– Young South American talents who could earn big moves to Europe
– Potential surprise packages
Ben also delivers the latest breaking transfer news and answers your questions in his weekly mailbag, keeping you up to speed with all the biggest moves as the window heats up before the World Cup.
Plus, we hear from The Athletic’s Tom Bogert, speaking directly from the USA traning camp, with insight into how the co-host nation is shaping up ahead of the tournament.
Manchester United are looking to strengthen their attacking options as we head towards the summer transfer window.
The Red Devils are certainly in the market to sign midfielders this summer, but they could also look to strengthen in other areas.
It’s an incredibly important summer transfer window for United as they look to build a squad capable of competing in the Champions League.
The Red Devils were without European football during the 2025/26 season, which made it easier for them to finish in the top four due to the lack of distractions.
Michael Carrick’s side will now be playing twice a week for large parts of the season, so they’ll need a deeper and more competitive squad.
Manchester United might face a problem in the transfer race for one midfield target this summer.
Man Utd Eyeing Forward Reinforcements
According to Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas, Manchester United have working on Lille forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo ahead of the summer transfer window.
The 21-year-old is set to compete at the World Cup with Belgium, and United are showing an interest as a potential forward option.
Despite his age, Fernandez-Pardo made 29 appearances for Lille in Ligue 1 last season, providing 13 goals and assists combined.
The Belgian forward, who has made two appearances for his country so far, predominantly plays as a centre forward but can also play on either wing.
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Versatile Forward Could be Smart for Man Utd
Signing a versatile forward in the summer transfer window could be an ideal move for United ahead of the 2026/2027 season.
Bringing in a player capable of playing in multiple positions in the forward line would be hugely beneficial, especially when Carrick looks to rotate his squad across different competitions.
