Xabi Alonso will NOT be the next Liverpool manager, with the Spaniard set to remain in Germany, according to reliable reports on Thursday night.
The Spaniard, 42, has been the frontrunner to replace Jurgen Klopp this summer – and certainly the fan’s favourite – but he is also coveted by Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and his current club Bayer Leverkusen of course.
With Leverkusen on the verge of their first Bundesliga title in 44 years with Alonso at the helm, it is claimed that the former Liverpool midfielder will remain with the German side, seemingly after Liverpool conducted their initial enquiries to find out whether he will be open to a move to Merseyside.
The Telegraph‘s Merseyside reporter, Chris Bascombe, writes that Alonso is unlikely to be Liverpool manager as the Reds “do not believe he will be available this summer.”
He adds that Liverpool are “pressing ahead in considering alternative candidates after it emerged that Alonso plans to remain at Bayer Leverkusen.”
The Times’ Paul Joyce reports similarly that Alonso is unlikely to feature on Liverpool’s shortlist as their “due diligence has indicated that Alonso is minded to stay at Bayer Leverkusen for at least another season.”
The news comes after Bayern Munich also publicly gave up on Alonso, with honorary president Uli Hoeness saying:
“I feel that it will be very difficult to sign Xabi Alonso, not to say probably impossible.I can certainly imagine him staying at Bayer Leverkusen to continue his job.
“[Alonso] is more inclined to stay at Bayer Leverkusen in view of their current successes, because he would not want to leave them behind. Let’s say if he had two or three more years of success, it would probably be easier to bring him out of there.”
The perceived favourite for the Liverpool job will now be Sporting’s Ruben Amorim, whose side are top of the Portuguese league.
The other main candidate is Brighton‘s Roberto De Zerbi, whose side are the opposition at Anfield on Sunday.
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