I think it is somewhat foolish to rule Pep out. If you'd given me this possibility a week ago, I'd have said no chance. But the more I think about it, the more I realise that there is something to be said for continuity of some sort. The uncertainty of how we will play after Klopp and how players respond to a new manager is anxiety inducing, and Pep has been very influential in our style of play these last few years.
I'm not advocating him, but for that reason, it is foolish to rule him out, which makes me wonder they have a clear idea of who they want. It would be idiotic if he's being ruled out because, only being the assistant, they are unable to measure him on a statistical model of head coaches though.