The leading team in the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen, is apparently optimistic about their ability to turn down Liverpool’s summer transfer request for Xabi Alonso.
Following Jurgen Klopp’s unexpected announcement that he will be departing the team at the end of the season, the 42-year-old has emerged as the clear choice to take over as head coach of the Reds.
During his five-year tenure with Liverpool from 2004 to 2009, Alonso won the Champions League and was a fan favourite. He then had spells at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Alonso has turned Leverkusen into a well-oiled counter-pressing machine since taking over at the BayArena, and as they sit atop the table, the Bundesliga championship is presently Die Werkself’s to lose.
Even though Alonso still has two and a half years left on his Leverkusen contract, Liverpool is likely to consider him highly when choosing a new manager to succeed the seasoned Klopp this summer.
Nevertheless, since the Spaniard is presently outlining his plans for his second season in command, writer Florian Plettenberg says that Leverkusen hopes to keep Alonso for the 2024–25 campaign.
Leverkusen is preparing for Liverpool to make a formal request for Alonso’s services when the current campaign ends, but they supposedly “assume” that he will remain with the team next season.
Shortly after Klopp’s departure was made public, Alonso addressed a news conference, stating that he was still content in Germany but leaving open the possibility of eventually joining Liverpool.
In his first 64 games as Leverkusen’s manager, the 42-year-old has amassed 41 victories, 13 draws, and 10 defeats. Respecting their aspirations for silverware, Leverkusen will not be contacted during the current campaign.
Two months after Klopp’s announcement, Liverpool players and supporters were made aware of his impending departure. The Reds’ owners, Fenway Sports Group, have known about the German coach’s plans since November, although they do not seem to have an instant replacement in place.
The Merseyside giants are reportedly unwilling to take the risk of upsetting the seasons of other teams by pursuing their head coach, and Alonso is just one of several candidates being suggested to succeed Klopp.
Julian Nagelsmann’s contract with Germany expires at the conclusion of Euro 2024, but Zinedine Zidane, who hasn’t had a club since leaving Real Madrid for the second time in 2021, is a potential contender.
Liverpool executives are said to have admiration for Premier League leaders Ange Postecoglou, Roberto De Zerbi, and Thomas Frank. This summer, the team will also bid adieu to assistant coaches Pep Lijnders, Peter Krawietz, and Vitor Matos.
At the conclusion of the 2021–22 season, Klopp merely renewed his contract with Liverpool until 2026. However, the German coach has since acknowledged that he is exhausted and will need a vacation from football after the season.
The former head coach of Borussia Dortmund, who has been strongly connected to the Germany position for some months, is unsure of his future plans, but he has made the commitment that, should he leave Liverpool, he would never manage another English side.
