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Tag: Xabi Alonso

Recent Liverpool manager searches and the three main attributes they are looking for

While nobody wants to consider life without Jurgen Klopp, the club is forced to consider such options as they look for his replacement, and three names keep coming up.

With 15 games remaining during Klopp’s tenure, Liverpool still has two Premier League and Europa League trophies up for grabs.

While everyone else concentrates on capping this campaign with a bang, the search for the next manager continues behind closed doors. He will leave the club in the best possible position.

As of right now, the former Red Alonso is still the front-runner to fill the position, followed by Xabi Alonso, Roberto De Zerbi of Brighton, and Ruben Amorim of Sporting.

They have a lot in common, and Liverpool “want a young manager who can grow at the club, and also someone who plays attacking football and has a strong personality,” according to Lewis Steele of the Mail.

They no longer require a revolutionary manager who can propel the team back to the top; instead, they need someone who can build on Klopp’s departure and propel Liverpool to even higher levels.

Liverpool is mindful of Alonso’s current work and will wait, but they “will fight” for him despite Germany’s conviction that he will be joining Bayern Munich.

Although there isn’t as much commotion around Richard Hughes as there is around Alonso or Amorim, the new sports director is a recognised admirer of De Zerbi’s work and tried to sign the Italian player some years ago at Bournemouth.

Since data will undoubtedly be used in Liverpool’s hunt, Amorim is a candidate to watch in that regard and is weighed highly.

De Zerbi holds the distinction of being the oldest at 44, yet all three fit the description of “young manager,” being no older than 45.

With 109 and 117 goals thus far this season, respectively, neither Alonso, 42, nor Amorim, 39, have seen their team lack goals; in contrast, Klopp’s Liverpool have 120 goals through ten games in 2023–2024.

Given the responsibilities a Liverpool manager will have to fulfil, the personality test will be equally crucial. However, comparing them to Klopp would be unfair because it would set an extremely unachievable bar.

It won’t be until the end of the season that the manager search is expected to make any substantial headway.

More news…….

Liverpool fans can rejoice because a vital player will be back in the starting lineup next week.

The good news for Liverpool is that Ibrahima Konate is expected to start for France against Chile on Tuesday night.

L’Equipe claims that the centre back, who has been sidelined due to injury for the past few weeks, is prepared to play in the friendly.

The defender was substituted out during Liverpool’s Europa League first-leg match against Sparta Praha. Since then, he has missed a number of important games for the Reds, including their FA Cup loss to Man United last week.

Prior to their match against Brighton at Anfield on Sunday, Liverpool supporters will be eager to see him return in the starting lineup, but the French player must win against Chile first.

How significant is Ibrahima Konate to Liverpool?

Given that the match against Chile is merely a friendly, Liverpool supporters will be hopeful that Konate survives. The centre back, who has played in 32 games for the Merseyside team this season, is an important member of Liverpool’s team.

It is no coincidence that the Reds have only triumphed in one of the three games in which the 24-year-old defender has missed due to injury. Klopp prefers the 24-year-old to combine with Virgil van Dijk.

With a few difficult games remaining and the desire to cap off his tenure at Anfield as best he can, the German coach will need everyone healthy for the last stretch.

March 29, 2024
Richard Hughes might use Liverpool’s Pep Lijnders technique once more as the “next” Alonso Xabi desires a transfer.

This summer, Xabi Alonso might take over as manager of Liverpool under Richard Hughes. Additionally, he might negotiate for his heir to join the Reds’ playing roster.

When Richard Hughes starts working at Liverpool, he will have a lot on his plate. Arriving formally on June 1st, the new sporting director will have a long list of tasks to complete.

Of course, the first priority will be appointing a new manager to succeed Jürgen Klopp. Xabi Alonso is the overwhelming favourite, but Bayern Munich will undoubtedly pose a threat.

After that, Hughes’ job at Anfield will be to bring in the first players of the new era. He might already have one option in front of him.

By now, Liverpool supporters will be well acquainted with Teun Koopmeiners. Although a transfer has never happened, the Atalanta midfielder’s name has frequently appeared in transfer market rumours.

Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Liverpool has been keeping an eye on the former AZ Alkmaar player, but Juventus is equally determined to keep him in Italy. Atalanta would likely be seeking $54 million (£43 million/€50 million), albeit it’s possible that the player overplayed their hand.

Koopmeiners has acknowledged that he is interested in joining the Premier League and wants to go this summer. “Last year, Napoli showed definite interest. Ultimately, though, the two teams were unable to come to a consensus. I told Atalanta that I wanted to move in the upcoming summer,” he said to the De Telegraaf.

While my fiancée and I are enjoying our time in Italy, I could even put up with the wet days at select clubs in England. I’m hoping opportunities arise so I can consider it. If I claimed I was unaware of the interest Juventus and Premier League teams have shown in me, I would be lying.”

Liverpool’s interest in Koopmeiners, a Dutch international, may be taken seriously. With Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk at Anfield, there’s no denying the Dutch influence. Pep Lijnders, Klopp’s assistant, was instrumental in the team’s purchase of Cody Gakpo. He is well-known for closely monitoring players from his native country, and Ryan Gravenberch joined him in the summer.

Thus, Lijnders will surely be familiar with Koopmeiners, who captained AZ Alkmaar and was a formidable force in the Eredivisie before relocating to Serie A, where he has once again shown promise. At the conclusion of the season, Lijnders and Klopp will undoubtedly part ways, but maybe Hughes will feel some of his impact.

Without a doubt, Koopmeiners is the kind of player who can contribute in the latter third. Importantly, though, he is also a versatile player for Liverpool in terms of tactics.

Koopmeiners excels when he has the ball and is most effective in a holding midfield role. However, he can also play in more advanced areas, much like Georginio Wijnaldum did.

Koopmeiners is gifted with exceptional technique, but he also possesses a special ability to hit the ball. In addition to his exceptional long ball distribution, which allows the midfielder to send defense-splitting passes across the pitch, he is also capable of hitting the target from long range.

Koopmeiners reminds me a lot of Xabi Alonso in terms of his technique and poise when handling the ball. If he were to join Liverpool, the Reds wouldn’t likely have had a player like that since the manager of Bayern Leverkusen.

Of course, another important component of Klopp’s strategy is the long ball. If Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, for example, were encouraged to make deep, penetrating passes to switch plays, Koopmeiners would be a perfect fit if that kind of style were to be used following Klopp’s departure.

After rebuilding last summer, midfield may not be a top priority for Liverpool, but nothing is off the table with a new manager in charge. Koopmeiners may prove to be Alonso’s midfield successor if he is appointed as the new manager.

March 24, 2024
Richard Hughes has been given ‘the Green Light’ on Liverpool Managerial Talks

Richard Hughes, the new sporting director of Liverpool, has been given “the green light” to begin working on projects at Anfield before the summer.

The “green light” has been given to Richard Hughes, the new sports director of Liverpool, by his current employers, AFC Bournemouth, to begin the process of selecting Jurgen Klopp’s replacement at Anfield.

With Klopp’s announcement that he will be leaving the team at the end of the 2023–2024 season, the Reds are searching for a replacement manager.

Although Hughes’ appointment as the Merseyside giants’ new sporting director was formally confirmed on March 20, he will take up his new position on June 1.

As journalist Ben Jacobs reports that Xabi Alonso is still the “leading candidate” at Anfield, Richard Hughes, the next sports director of Liverpool, has been granted the “green light” by his current employers, AFC Bournemouth, to begin the process of selecting a manager to succeed Jurgen Klopp.

With Klopp out of the picture for the first time in almost ten years, the Reds are anticipating a summer filled with big changes. Since taking over in 2015, the current head coach has made it known that he will step down at the conclusion of the 2023–2024 campaign.

Hughes and Michael Edwards, the chief executive of football operations at Fenway Sports Group, need to appoint a deserving successor to the Liverpool icon. Leading lights in European football have taken notice of Alonso, who is having a fantastic season at Bayer Leverkusen, ahead of the summer.

Hughes’ hiring is confirmed by Liverpool
Liverpool officially announced Richard Hughes’ appointment as their new sporting director on March 20. After just six months at Anfield, Jorg Schmadtke departed his position at the end of the 2024 winter transfer window, and the 44-year-old takes his place.

Michael Edwards appointed Hughes, who will formally assume his duties at the AXA Training Centre on June 1st, ahead of the 2024–2025 campaign. The Scot, who is presently AFC Bournemouth’s technical director, must still play out the rest of the season with the club. Hughes expressed his gratitude on Liverpool’s official website after receiving confirmation of his appointment, saying he was “incredibly proud” to have been given the chance:

“I am so honoured to have been given this chance. I’m honoured to have the opportunity to work with Liverpool FC, a special team, in this role.

“I understand exactly what is expected of me in this role, as well as my obligations. Making wise judgements will be my responsibility in collaboration with Michael [Edwards], as I will be in charge of the football operations team that is now in place as well as the larger AXA Training Centre workforce.

It is anticipated that Hughes would appoint his first team member at Liverpool soon in order to assemble a squad that may surpass the accomplishments of the previous administration. Journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that Mark Burchill, the chief scout for Bournemouth, will accompany the technical director of the Cherries to Anfield. The 43-year-old and Liverpool are set to sign a deal soon, but one has already been agreed upon. This indicates that Burchill, Edwards, and Hughes will be a part of the new team that is anticipated to usher in a new era for the Reds.

Ben Jacobs: Hughes has “jobs to do” prior to his start date at Liverpool on 1st of June.

According to Jacobs, despite Hughes’ official start date of June at Liverpool, the Reds and Bournemouth have a “very good relationship” that permits the new sporting director to start working on projects right now. The journalist believes Hughes has been given the “all clear” to begin the process of finding and selecting Klopp’s replacement. Telling GIVEMESPORT, Jacobs

“Everyone has been very open and honest, and Bournemouth and Liverpool have a great relationship.” Therefore, Hughes is free to start working on finding a replacement for Klopp, and Bournemouth is totally cool with that. Although June 1st is the official start date, he has work to do and will be transparent about it. Xabi Alonso is the main prospect for Liverpool. The sources don’t hide that. But it’s a meticulous procedure, as usual with Liverpool.”

Liverpool’s most recent pursuit of Xabi Alonso latest

According to Jacobs, who spoke with GIVEMESPORT on March 19, Hughes’ connection to Xabi Alonso’s agent may give Liverpool a small edge over Bayern Munich in the competition to recruit the manager of Bayer Leverkusen. The Cherries’ current manager, Andoni Iraola, who has the same agent as Alonso, was hired with assistance from the technical director of Bournemouth. The strong bond the two have developed may have an impact on the decision made by the 42-year-old head coach.

Uli Hoeness, the honorary president of Bayern Munich, recently told Ran Sport that Liverpool and the Bundesliga’s top teams are vying for Alonso’s services. With eight games left in the 2023–24 season, the former midfielder—who played for both Anfield and the Allianz Arena—looks to be leading Bayer Leverkusen to their first league title. He has helped the team open a ten-point lead over Bayern.

March 23, 2024
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.

February 19, 2024
Reece James now responds inaudibly to what Chelsea did just before deadline.

Reece James responded to the news that Callum Hudson-Odoi, a recent academy graduate, had left Chelsea on social media.

One of the first team’s longest-tenured players was transferred to Premier League team Nottingham Forest, and he left a single sad emoji comment on the former player’s Instagram.

After a long summer of rumors that he would be moving on, Hudson-Odoi’s departure from the club was finally confirmed yesterday.

Last season, they tried one last loan to the Bundesliga in an effort for him to regain the form that helped him break into the team in the first place.

However, under Xabi Alonso, things did not go well, and he actually left Bayer Leverkusen before his loan was supposed to end.

When Hudson-Odoi sold, James was devastated.

Under Mauricio Pochettino, a path back to the first team appeared to be very difficult to see.
He wasn’t a part of the team that traveled to the US for the preseason tour.

Many Premier League teams were rumored to be interested in signing the player, but Forest sealed the deal for a pittance.

James expressed his regret over Hudson-Odoi’s departure on his former teammate’s Instagram story.
James and Hudson-Odoi were friends for many years as they progressed through the academy.

The attacker might not have to wait long, though, as Chelsea is scheduled to play Forest in the league today.

Cole Palmer might make his debut for his new team during this game as Chelsea looks to extend its winning streak at home in the Premier League.

More news……..

The Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk provides a four-word update on his injury.

The 22-year-old could play for the Blues this weekend if he returns from injury.

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has announced he is back in training after picking up a minor injury ahead of the Blues’ game against Luton Town last weekend.

The 22-year-old was criticized for his poor performances in Chelsea’s first two games of the season against Liverpool and West Ham, failing to make a huge impact in either game.

However, he was ruled out of the Luton game with a training injury and Pochettino admitted he was disappointed Mudryk missed the game against the Hatters.

“I think he might need a few days to recover,” Pochettino said. “He won’t be available. Very disappointed with the situation, he played against West Ham for 45 minutes.

“He is a player we hope to help play the way he thinks he can. Disappointed, but at the same time it’s not a big deal. Maybe a week or a few days.”

Mudryk also missed AFC Wimbledon in the Blues’ 2-1 win in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, as the Ukraine international was left out of the match-day squad.

But the star is on his way back, having shared on his Instagram story a photo of him and teammate Malo Gusto in training and sharing a hug. He finally tagged the France international with a blue heart emoji, with Mudryk captioning the post: “Happy to be back.” He could be part of Pochettino’s squad when the Blues play Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

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Chelsea set medical following £45m deal agreed with Man City

Chelsea have agreed a £40m deal plus £5m in add-ons for Manchester City winger Cole Palmer.

The 21-year-old has already agreed to move to Stamford Bridge. Personal appointments should be a formality and a doctor’s appointment is currently being arranged.

A £35million offer from the Blues was rejected earlier on Wednesday but quickly returned to the negotiating table to broker a deal for the striker, who was on the sidelines in Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Former City scout Joe Shields, who is now co-director of recruitment and talent, played a key role in securing the deal. Palmer struggled to establish himself at the Etihad Stadium and was an unused substitute in the treble winner’s last two games, despite his goal in a Super Cup win in early August.

He is still highly regarded for playing an integral part in England’s victory in the Under-21 European Championship this summer.

The move will see Chelsea’s summer spending exceed £400m and over £1bn for the three transfer windows since the Boehly-Clearlake takeover.

Palmer’s arrival will be Chelsea’s latest outlay, with player sales topping the agenda until the 11pm deadline on Friday.

The transfer of Romelu Lukaku to Roma should take place shortly, while negotiations are still underway for the permanent transfer of Callum Hudson-Odoi to Nottingham Forest. Ian Maatsen, Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah still face an uncertain future. Maatsen is interested in a permanent contract with both West Ham and Burnley, while Chalobah is in the sights of Bayern Munich.

Tottenham continue to monitor Gallagher’s availability, having previously had the option to sign him.

September 3, 2023