Alan Shearer has warned Liverpool they face a challenging task in attempting to hire Xabi Alonso as their permanent manager this summer.
The Reds remain on the lookout for a Jurgen Klopp replacement and were instantly linked with a move for Alonso, who is enjoying a remarkable season at Bayer Leverkusen. The German club are yet to lose a match in any competition this term and are ten points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
Alonso would likely be Liverpool’s standout candidate, ahead of others such as Roberto De Zerbi and Ruben Amorim, though the Reds are not the only clubs eyeing the Spaniard. Bayern Munich last month confirmed Thomas Tuchel will leave the club at the end of the season, ensuring they too require a new coach, meanwhile Real Madrid are also believed to be in the running.
Carlo Ancelotti signed a contract extension with Los Blancos only in December, keeping him at the club until 2026, though various reports have indicated they would be interested in snapping up their former midfielder as a long-term replacement for Ancelotti.
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Liverpool will have to hope Alonso views Anfield as the best next destination in his career, which is already shaping up to be as rewarding as his playing days. One issue the Reds will have to contend with is that they’re not the only major European club with a key vacancy to fill, ensuring there is no easy path to securing their preferred choice.
Weighing in on this dilemma and who would represent the right fit for Liverpool, Shearer told The Athletic: “The really intriguing thing is Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are looking for a new manager ahead of next season and I don’t think they’re the only big jobs that will become available this summer.
“With the job that Xabi Alonso is doing this season at Bayer Leverkusen, he’ll have a pick of jobs if he wants them. That’s the obvious link that loads of people have already made, given Alonso played for Liverpool.”
Klopp’s decision to step aside from Anfield shocked the footballing world earlier this year, though the German was quick to explain his reasoning for calling time on his tenure. He said: “It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.”
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
