Report: Völler set to stay as DFB sporting director after Klopp call

Rudi Völler is set to continue as German Football Federation (DFB) sporting director, according to the Bild newspaper.

Tuesday's report said likely new men's coach Jürgen Klopp had phoned 1990 World Cup winner Völler to assure him they could work together. Völler's DFB contract runs until Euro 2028.

DFB vice-president Hans-Joachim Watzke has also said he could well imagine Klopp and Völler working together if a deal can be agreed with the former Liverpool coach to succeed Julian Nagelsmann, who resigned after a third straight early World Cup exit.

"I would like to continue with Rudi. I believe that he and Jürgen would work wonderfully together. They have to join forces at some point," Watzke told broadcaster ZDF on Monday.

Watzke, who is also president of Borussia Dortmund and close with Klopp after he coached there, is expected in the US later this week together with DFB president Bernd Neuendorf to hold talks with the 59-year-old.

Klopp is a pundit at the World Cup in North America for MagentaTV.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness wants former World Cup winner Per Mertesacker to take on a role in German football.

Hoeness, who helped West Germany lift the trophy in 1974, thinks the DFB needs more new recruits to end the malaise.

Mertesacker was part of the 2014-winning squad and spent eight years as Arsenal's youth academy director. He has been working during the World Cup as a German television pundit.

"He has extensive international experience. He has always shown how well he can deal with people," Hoeness told Bild.

"Everything Per Mertesacker says on television is sound. He is never insulting but still critical. If you were at Arsenal for eight years, you must be able to do something and that is exactly what we need now."

Hoeness added that Mertesacker would not do it for the money, but because he would be motivated by the challenge of building something and moving forward with passion.

ZDF pundit Mertesacker, 41, said recently: "At some point working at the DFB and giving something back to German football, to which I owe so much, appeals to me. Of course I am available for that,"

A successor must be found for managing director for sport Andreas Rettig, who is leaving the DFB at the end of the year.