Former Liverpool star Ryan Babel has tipped Jürgen Klopp to surprise people with his next job after the Reds, having suggested Real Madrid doesn’t deserve him.

Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of the current season. With just two games remaining in the Premier League campaign, the German has less than two weeks remaining in his time at Anfield.

He will bring the curtain down on his time on Merseyside against Wolves on May 19. Arne Slot is expected to succeed him, having all but confirmed his appointment on Sunday.

Much less is known about what lies in store for Klopp though. The 56-year-old has made his intentions clear to take at least a year out from football, although it’s not yet clear what he will do thereafter.

Although the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and the German national team have been touted as possible destinations, Babel believes Klopp could take everyone by surprise with his next job.

"There are not many teams, in my opinion, who deserve Jürgen Klopp," Babel exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone (via the Mirror). "He's a coach who needs to be accepted for who he is. He's someone who needs time to completely express his way of playing.

"So, with that being said, while I would love to see him be successful with a team like Real Madrid, we know that Real Madrid are not a team who are going to give him two or three years to eventually show the football that he wants to play. So, I don't think Real Madrid deserve him.

‌"Even a team like Bayern, you know, they don't have a lot of patience for managers. There are rumors that he might coach the German national team... I don't know about that. But I think he'll definitely surprise a lot of people."

Despite planning to take at least a year out of football, Babel also believes Klopp’s sabbatical will not last as long as he plans.

"He will probably go away to a lot of holiday destinations, drink some beer and spend some quality time with his family. He'll try to release all the stress, in a good environment with his family, before he inevitably goes back to work.

‌"Judging from the outside, and knowing Jürgen Klopp, he's far from done. I think he'll get bored within six months and he'll want to work again."

Liverpool.com says: It will be interesting to see what’s next for Klopp. If and when he does decide to return to football, he will surely have his pick of clubs, although we can at least rule out a return to the Premier League for him.

Real Madrid does seem a logical next step, but as Babel points out, Los Blancos don’t exactly show much patience with their managers. The German national team then might make more sense, especially if Klopp doesn’t want to contend with the rigors of club football again.