Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is being considered as the frontrunner to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, as reported by The Athletic.
While several managers have been linked to the Liverpool job, Alonso has emerged as the top contender to take over from the German at the end of the season.
He previously spent five successful years at Anfield as a player between 2004 and 2009, during which he secured victories in the FA Cup and Champions League.
Following his time with Liverpool, Alonso played for Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. He returned to the Bundesliga in October 2022 to assume his first senior managerial role as the head coach at Bayer Leverkusen.
Under Alonso’s guidance, Leverkusen have become a formidable team in Germany, currently leading the Bundesliga. They are unbeaten in 18 matches and hold a four-point advantage over Bayern Munich.
Although Alonso signed a new contract with Leverkusen in the summer, which is set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 campaign, it is understood that he reached a gentleman’s agreement with the club’s hierarchy, allowing him to depart for a top club like Liverpool.
During a press conference on Friday, the former Spain international expressed his happiness at Leverkusen, stating that he is not currently contemplating his future.
“Well first of all, yeah it [Klopp’s decision to step down at the end of the season] was a surprise,” he said.
“But as well I have huge respect for Jurgen, huge admiration before coming to Liverpool and during this year it has even been bigger and it has grown what he has achieved and the way he has achieved that.
“And at the moment I am really happy here. I am enjoying my work here. I am feeling that each day it is a challenge. Each game is a challenge and we are in an intense and a beautiful journey here in Leverkusen and I am trying to give my best to help my players be ready for the next thing and that’s my goal. What will happen [in the future], I don’t know.”
He added: “To be honest, I am not in that moment to think about the next step, I’m thinking about where I am right now.”
“And I think that I am in a great place and I am enjoying and I think it’s the right place. So that’s all I can say… My place is what’s going to [happen] on Saturday to be honest because that’s what really matters and I’m going to be happy when we are playing well and we deserve to win. And what’s going to happen in the future, I don’t know and I don’t really care at the moment.”
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