Alexi Lalas has echoed fellow USMNT legend Tim Howard in urging US Soccer chiefs to make a play for Jurgen Klopp in the wake of the team's Copa America catastrophe.

In his exclusive column for DailyMail.com, Howard vowed to fly to Spain himself to persuade the former Liverpool manager to coach the USMNT. 

'You need someone with high expectations, a clear vision and a clear path. Someone who is demanding of themselves as well as their team. Someone like Jurgen Klopp,' he wrote. 

Current head coach Gregg Berhalter is under huge pressure after his team failed to get out of the group stages of Copa America. It leaves US Soccer in turmoil just two years out from a home World Cup. 

Klopp is currently enjoying a break following his departure from Anfield but Lalas believes that - should they decide to fire Berhalter - soccer chiefs would be 'derelict in their duty not to have a conversation with Klopp'.

Alexi Lalas has echoed Tim Howard in urging US Soccer chiefs to make a play for Jurgen Klopp

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'He might say that he doesn’t want to do it, but you leave no stone unturned in terms of going out and trying to identify and lure in the best in the world,' Lalas told the New York Post. 

'I know people scoff at the idea of someone with his pedigree and background would ever consider doing this. But until you have the conversation, you don’t know.'

Klopp enjoyed great success at Liverpool by playing fearless attacking soccer and Lalas believes it would be an 'incredible waste of an opportunity' if the US didn't 'go in all guns blazing in 2026'

The former defender, who shot to superstardom after USA '94, continued: 'If you’re not going to go big, it flies in the face of what America is — we want big, we want bold, and dare I say we want arrogant...  in terms of maximizing the summer of 2026.'

He added: 'If the World Cup in 2026 wasn’t in the United States, I think the conversation would be a little bit different... (but) over the next two years, you need somebody who is going to ignite and inspire a nation that we are headed in the right direction. You need a bigger-than-life personality.'

Howard pointed out that the US already has a dynamic team who could be suited to Klopp's style. 'He would have a young group of players who can play progressive, front-foot soccer - exactly like his Liverpool teams,' the former goalkeeper wrote.

Lalas also sought to highlight the opportunities that would be afforded to Klopp if he was to take the USMNT role.

'You’re living in what I think is the best country in the world in America. You also are playing in the World Cup as the host, and that’s very special and unique,' he added.

'It’s not that you have nothing to lose, but we are in a position right now where there’s an opportunity for someone to meet us and bring us back to where we believe in this team.'