Report: Xabi Alonso response to Liverpool job after contact made

Xabi Alonso, a legend of Liverpool, has been linked to a return to Anfield ever since Jurgen Klopp made his departure known.

According to reports, Liverpool has gotten in touch with Xabi Alonso to gauge his interest in succeeding Jurgen Klopp after the German retires this summer.

The French publication Foot Mercato has confirmed this, chasing rumours that linked the Bayer Leverkusen manager to a reunion with his old team nearly as soon as Klopp declared his choice last month.

During his time at Anfield, Alonso was a hugely popular player. Under Rafa Benitez, his elegant midfield stylings were crucial to their victories in the 2005 Champions League, the 2006 FA Cup, and their most convincing Premier League run to date, which ended in a narrow loss to Manchester United in 2009.

After leaving the team that summer, Alonso spent his last seasons at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. He then turned to coaching, beginning his managerial career with Real Sociedad B until joining Leverkusen in 2022.

The former Spanish international is currently leading the team to their first-ever Bundesliga championship after doing admirably in the role. After defeating Bayern of second place 3-0 on Saturday, Leverkusen leads the table by five points with 13 games remaining and an undefeated record.

It makes sense, then, that Alonso has played coy about the speculations that he is interested in joining Liverpool, stating only that he is content with his current position and committed to finishing the task at hand.

In Foot Mercato’s reporting, that position has been reaffirmed without specific quotations, implying that they have independently investigated the matter.

Although Liverpool leads the table by just two points above Manchester City and Arsenal—the latter of which has a game in hand—Jurgen Klopp is hoping to end his career on a high note.

Next weekend, Liverpool will play Chelsea in the League Cup final at Wembley before taking on Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round. Next Friday, they will also find out who their opponents are in the Europa League round of 16.

More news…….

‘Huge’ transfer kitty from FSG to be received by Liverpool’s new manager

The transfer budget that Liverpool will provide its next manager is enormous; only one Premier League team could match them.

Football Insider has been informed by sources that Liverpool plans to make significant summer window purchases in anticipation of selecting a new director of football and manager.

The Premier League’s Financial Fair Play regulations and off-field factors including as Jurgen Klopp’s departure are thought to have hindered the Reds’ ability to make significant purchases in January.

Just 17 permanent moves were completed in the English top division during the mid-season window, with FFP leaving its imprint on most clubs.

However, Football Insider has been informed by a reliable source that a “big spend” is anticipated as normal in the summer as teams aim to complete their primary business.

In terms of purchasing power, Man United is expected to challenge Liverpool after the INEOS-backed takeover was revealed last year.

Although teams like the Reds are likely to be cautious of FFP limitations, a robust summer transfer window is anticipated despite a quiet January.

Financial wizard Kieran Maguire also revealed to Football Insider on February 6 that Klopp’s successor at Liverpool will have access to a “huge” summer transfer budget.

Football Insider (January 28) disclosed that the Merseysiders have designated Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso as their top target and are preparing to make a move for him.

With the addition of Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, and Ryan Gravenberch to their roster last summer, the Reds completely revamped their midfield.

Despite having played one more game than Man City, who are in second place, Klopp’s team leads the Premier League by two points.