Klopp set to be named Germany coach after 'generous' Red Bull deal

Jürgen Klopp is expected to be unveiled as the new Germany men's coach on Friday after a meeting with his current employer Red Bull cleared the way.

Sources told dpa that Klopp met with Red Bull sports boss Oliver Mintzlaff on Saturday and the former Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool coach confirmed a deal on Sunday to allow him to leave his position as Global Head of Soccer at the drinks firm's sports arm.

"I have reached an agreement with Red Bull – a generous arrangement," Klopp told MagentaTV, where he is finishing his punditry duty at the World Cup final.

As for a final agreement with the German Football Federation (DFB), he added: "Nothing is final yet, but the talks are ongoing and everything is moving in the right direction."

Pending final details and approval from the supervisory board and wider stakeholders at the DFB, Klopp is to be appointed until 2030 and presented on Friday, according to dpa sources and Sky TV.

Klopp is to succeed Julian Nagelsmann, who resigned after Germany's round of 32 exit against Paraguay at the World Cup, which ends later on Sunday with the final between Spain and Argentina.

The DFB said on Sunday it "is not commenting on the current state of negotiations with Jürgen Klopp. A final decision will be taken by the relevant bodies."

DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and his deputy met with Klopp last week and agreed on a framework of a contract reportedly until 2030. They then met with Mintzlaff earlier this week.

A big severance fee was off the table early, but Red Bull had reportedly suggested "creative solutions" such as Klopp continuing to represent the drinks company commercially, which was however seen in a negative light by the DFB.

Klopp has a deal until 2029 at Red Bull, whom he joined in January last year having quit Liverpool seven months earlier due to a need to recharge his batteries as a coach.

The 59-year-old has won two Bundesliga titles at Dortmund plus a Premier League and Champions League at Liverpool.

Separately, 2014 World Cup winner Per Mertesacker has confirmed talks are continuing with the DFB over a role at the federation for the former Arsenal youth academy boss.

Managing director Andreas Rettig is leaving at the end of the year and the former Germany defender has been tipped by many pundits to replace him.

"You have to give the DFB credit for one thing: they’ve never really lost touch with me. Things have picked up a bit again over the last week. We’re talking, so to speak. But there’s nothing to announce yet," Mertesacker told broadcaster ZDF, where he too has been a World Cup pundit.