Xabi Alonso has emerged as an early frontrunner to replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager next season.
Klopp announced his shock decision on Friday that he is leaving his role as Liverpool manager at the end of the season and said he ‘doesn’t have the energy’ to meet the standards he has set at Anfield beyond this term.
Talk is already under way about his replacement and former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso has emerged as an immediate front runner with bookmakers and Liverpool supporters.
The Spaniard has made an excellent start to his managerial career at Bayer Leverkusen and they are currently four points clear of German champions Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga table.
Bayer are yet to lose in the league this season and are also still in the Europa League and the DFB Pokal and Alonso has earned plaudits for their exciting style of play and development of sought-after talents like Florian Wirtz, Victor Boniface and Jeremie Frimpong.
Alonso could lead Leverkusen to an historic season and his reward could be a move back to Liverpool, with whom he won the Champions League and FA Cup as a player.
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Bayer Leverkusen’s Alonso stance
Alonso’s work has also not gone unnoticed in his native Spain and with speculation swirling around about Carlo Ancelotti’s long term future earlier this season, he was linked with the Real Madrid job as well.
Reports suggested Alonso had an affordable release clause in his contract if any of former clubs Liverpool, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich wanted to approach him to be their manager.
A message to Liverpool supporters from Jürgen Klopp. pic.twitter.com/l7rtmxgOzt
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 26, 2024
However, that was dismissed by Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro, but he did hint that they wouldn’t stand in his way if Alonso wanted to leave the BayArena.
“A release clause for Alonso? No, you don’t need one,” he told talkSPORT back in November.
“We have a very good relationship with him and he knows we are a club who takes matters very seriously. We won’t force anyone to stay here if they don’t want to. We want him to feel happy with us so that his only wish is to stay.”