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Tag: Xabi Alonso

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
This summer, Xabi Alonso’makes decision’ between Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

Although both Liverpool and Bayern Munich are interested in recruiting Xabi Alonso as the Bayer Leverkusen manager this summer, he does have one preference.

It is more ‘probable’ that Xabi Alonso, should he decide to leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer, will pick Bayern Munich over Liverpool.

The Spanish player is being pursued by both Bayern and the Reds, who are looking to replace Jurgen Klopp. Thomas Tuchel is expected to leave at the end of the current campaign. Leverkusen, led by Alonso, leads the Bundesliga standings with 38 wins this season, 10 points ahead of second-place Bayern.

Throughout his illustrious playing career, Alonso played for both Bayern and Liverpool. The temptation to rejoin is evident, but he might choose to stay at Leverkusen and help them win the Champions League. Bayern will, however, have a higher chance of obtaining his services for the upcoming season if he decides to depart BayArena.

Though they haven’t started talks, Bayern are ‘optimistic’ about enticing Alonso to the Allianz Arena, according to Sky Germany. The source also stated that should Alonso choose to leave Leverkusen, he will “probably” transfer to Bayern rather than Liverpool. The 42-year-old’s current deal still has more than two years left on it.

Uli Hoeness, the honorary president of Bayern, discussed the team’s possible pursuit of Alonso and made a suggestion that he is their first pick to succeed Tuchel this summer. The 72-year-old stated: “He [Alonso] has proven that he can be a coach for the big time at a Munich Trade Fair.”

Hardly few qualified coaches are available right now. Instead, they are coaches who may be very successful and who have a contract somewhere.

“And that makes it even harder because teams like FC Bayern, Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Leverkusen are attempting to secure Alonso.” Telling them that Bayern is the standard for everything is not so simple.

Alonso is about to lead Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga victory ever. The North German team also plays West Ham in the Europa League quarterfinal next month. They need just 15 points from their final 8 games to cross the finish line.

Since joining Leverkusen in October 2022, the former midfielder for Liverpool and Bayern Munich has performed admirably, winning 50 of his 75 games in charge. Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky said on Thursday that no one would begrudge Alonso a move should he decide to go.

“No-one would be angry or argue if he wins the Bundesliga and decides to go another route,” Hradecky stated. “He likes being in Leverkusen, as we witness every day. He likes his residence in Dusseldorf. However, if you take a different tack, how might you improve upon this season?

“No-one would be angry or argue if he wins the Bundesliga and decides to go another route,” Hradecky stated. “He likes being in Leverkusen, as we witness every day. He likes his residence in Dusseldorf. However, if you take a different tack, how might you improve upon this season?

“We’ve created something worthy of a prize. I’m hoping it happens. Sometimes football can be cruel; you don’t want Bayern to be breathing down your necks, but maybe the platform we’ve built will be sufficient. We’re drawing nearer. That is the goal. We must never give up on our beliefs. Our dream is getting closer, and I hope it comes true.

“For Xabi, there is a lot to ponder but he’s enough of a gentleman to make the right decision and only he knows what’s best for him.”

March 23, 2024
Xabi Alonso was passed over as the Liverpool players “choose who they want to replace Jurgen Klopp.”

After almost nine years in charge of the Anfield team, Jurgen Klopp is quitting Liverpool at the end of the current campaign. The German manager cites tiredness as a motivating reason.

The players at Liverpool want Pep Lijnders, who is currently ranked second under Jurgen Klopp, to take over as manager instead of current favourite Xabi Alonso.

The talkSPORT duo Alan Brazil and Dean Saunders assert that they have insider knowledge indicating the Reds team is eager for Klopp’s deputy to assume control in order to minimise any inconvenience.

When Klopp revealed in January that he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the current campaign, following almost nine years in command of the Anfield club, the football world was shocked.

The German said that tiredness was a major role in his decision to step down, and he added that he thought Liverpool was in an excellent position for a new manager to take over and make immediate progress.

Brazil stated on talkSPORT that “I am told the players wouldn’t mind the number two, Pep taking over” in reference to what lies ahead for Liverpool. Saunders went on, “I heard that too. Lijnders, at least, is aware of what is happening there. It’s challenging; to whom do you assign the task? That club is really large.”

When Lijnders first joined Liverpool in 2014, he collaborated with Brendan Rodgers. When Klopp took over in 2015, he kept him on, but the Dutchman left Liverpool after three seasons to take over NEC in the Netherlands.

Lijnders spent a year in his own country before coming back to Anfield in 2018 and helping Liverpool win the Premier League and Champions League.

Beyond this season, Lijnders’ future is uncertain because Bayer Leverkusen manager Alonso is ranked higher than him in the running to succeed Klopp as Liverpool’s manager.

Additionally, Lijnders has hinted that he will leave Liverpool with Klopp and that he would not desire the head position there. “Nobody will replace Jurgen,” he declared. To be honest, I was clear when we had the conversation a long time ago; it made things easier for me.

“In the summer, we realised that this endeavour was coming to an end. There’s too much focus on me—we have a 48-hour final game. I believe I have answered questions in interviews because I understand.

“My heart always says yes to offers, but my loyalty to Jurgen and Mike Gordon says no.” Therefore, it is appropriate that we complete this endeavour together, as we have decided to do.

The favourite to succeed Jurgen Klopp is Xabi Alonso.

“They’ll have a new coach with ideas, and I’m thrilled that I was able to locate the ideal team. However, I will only be thinking about Liverpool until the season’s final, which is why we have agents, right?

With a game remaining, Alonso, a Reds player from 2004 to 2009, has led his Leverkusen team to the top of the Bundesliga, seven points ahead of Bayern Munich.

But Bayern, who have announced that Thomas Tuchel will step down, are also taking notice of the Spaniard. They are looking for a new manager at the end of the current campaign.

When asked about his future and the attention he has received from Bayern Munich and Liverpool, Alonso has been evasive. “I’m currently presuming that [I’ll be the Bayer Leverkusen manager come next season].”

“I am the coach right now, no doubt about it. I have nothing fresh to say about the future. Let’s see. Although it’s acceptable to have questions, now is not the time to discuss them.”

March 18, 2024
Liverpool news: Xabi Alonso gets a significant endorsement, as Jurgen Klopp suffers fresh blow

Liverpool is preparing to play Southampton plays in the FA Cup on Wednesday, but after winning the Carabao Cup, Jurgen Klopp now has to cope with more injury woes.

As Liverpool’s jubilation from their Carabao Cup victory on Sunday fade, they are now focused on the FA Cup.

Under Jurgen Klopp, the Reds won their eighth major trophy at Wembley after defeating Chelsea. However, the victory came at a price, as Klopp was obliged to use a number of youth players when midfielder Ryan Gravenberch suffered an injury.

Gravenberch’s injury has now been fully disclosed, which is a further setback for the Reds. This information is released in spite of Gary Neville’s insistence that Klopp’s team is one of the favourites to win the Premier League.

Additionally, star manager Pep Guardiola has given leading candidate Xabi Alonso a hearty endorsement as Klopp is ready to leave at the conclusion of the season. Mirror Football compiles the most recent Liverpool news here.

Klopp laments another injury blow

Ryan Gravenberch’s injury will prevent him from playing in the FA Cup against Southampton, according to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. Following a tackle by Moises Caicedo, Gravenberch suffered damage to his ankle ligaments, with Klopp compounding the current injury.

“Apart from anything else, I am aware that Ryan is not available. Although it’s only a ligament damage and might have been much worse, it’s significant enough to keep him out of the game today. Next up, we’ll see,” Klopp stated.

Neville provides title tips

“With a few players, we need miracles, and with many more, who were unable to play in the final, it’s close to the wire. Because there are so many injuries, it’s a terrible situation, but all we can do for now is ignore the people we are missing.

Despite Liverpool’s growing injury list, legendary Manchester United player Gary Neville has predicted Liverpool to win the Premier League. Neville thinks that Klopp has given the Reds a significant edge over rivals Manchester City and Arsenal.

Yes, I would argue it might be as good as it gets if they didn’t have Klopp as their manager. However, given that these are his final months, along with his vitality and spirit, you never know what will transpire there “he said in an interview with The Gary Neville Podcast.

“I continue to believe they won’t win the league. However, they might. When I watch Arsenal, I believe they are a better team than Liverpool, but I also believe Liverpool to be a more brutal team. Liverpool poses such a serious threat. And I believe that will ultimately just be an issue.”

Guardiola says “yes” to Alonso

Pep Guardiola has praised Xabi Alonso highly, indicating that the Spaniard is the favourite to succeed Jurgen Klopp. Guardiola maintained that the Bayer Leverkusen manager was at the top of his game, even though he refrained from demanding that Liverpool hire him.

“If you genuinely ask me about the work he is doing, what can I say? Whoa! Guardiola remarked, “It’s the only team in contemporary football history to be undefeated across all competitions and fighting in that manner with Bayern Munich there.”

This is the most crucial time of the season for them right now. But gosh, not only do they play well, they won all of their games in the Bundesliga, Europa League, and [DFB] Pokal in Germany.”

February 28, 2024
In addition to Xabi Alonso, Liverpool wants to add an important man from Bayer Leverkusen.

Liverpool is preparing to go for Bayer Leverkusen director Simon Rolfes while the team looks for changes in the backstage.

According to Football Insider, Liverpool is thinking about bringing in 42-year-old Simon Rolfes, Bayer Leverkusen’s sports director, to join the team.

The transfer might be favourably accepted because the Reds are seeking to acquire a top-draw sporting director and are chasing Xabi Alonso.

Liverpool is preparing for big managerial changes behind the scenes and is keen to bring in a sporting director.

The previous position was temporarily occupied by Jorg Schmadtke last summer, and he left at the end of the January transfer window.

Liverpool never saw Schmadtke as a long-term solution, even if he had shown promise in the last two transfer windows.

The organisation needs a long-term planner to help with the building of another big project at Anfield now that Jurgen Klopp is prepared to leave the team.

Liverpool has their sights set on Tim Steidten, while West Ham is ready to fight to keep him at the London Stadium.

Simon Rolfes, 42, of Bayer Leverkusen, who has a stellar work experience with the Bundesliga squad, is now another target for Liverpool.

The idea of Rolfes is a good move, even though Liverpool will need to apply a lot of pressure to Leverkusen to enable the 42-year-old to leave. He might be open to the idea if he were given the chance to follow Xabi Alonso to Anfield in the summer and continue their wonderful partnership, although at a different team and level.

Liverpool believes that Xabi Alonso is their best option to replace Klopp, as he is leaving the team. This is already widely recognised.

At Leverkusen, the Spaniard has played brilliantly, contributing to the team’s unblemished record this season and their dominant lead in the Bundesliga title battle.

More news……..

According to reports, Ederson, an Atalanta midfielder, is a target for Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal.

Ederson, an Atalanta midfielder, is apparently a target for Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal.

The Premier division’s biggest clubs have taken notice of the 24-year-old Brazilian as he has established himself as a dependable player in the Italian division. Tutto Atalanta reports that the midfield player might fetch a summer transfer fee of up to €45 million. It will be fascinating to see if Liverpool, Manchester United, or Arsenal are willing to pay a hefty price for him.

At the end of the current campaign, Manchester United needs to bring him in as a centre midfielder. Since joining the team, Sofyan Amrabat has mostly disappointed, and when his loan agreement expires, he will return to his native club.

Ederson might wind up being a great addition to the Red Devils. In addition to adding creativity and goals to the side, he will assist in managing the game’s speed. This season, he has six goals and one assist in all competitions.

Likewise, when Thiago Alcantara departs Liverpool in the summer, the team will want a central midfield player. By season’s end, the Spaniard’s contract will expire.

In the event that Thomas Partey chooses to leave Arsenal, Mikel Arteta will need to effectively replace him. In recent months, there have been rumours that the Ghanaian international wants to leave Arsenal.

It will be intriguing to watch where Ederson ends up, since he will undoubtedly be tempted to join a major Premier League club. Although the Brazilian might be able to recoup the investment in the upcoming seasons, the stated asking amount might end up being a bit of an issue.

February 24, 2024
Xabi Alonso speaks out about the connection between Bayern Munich and Liverpool after making “contact.”

In response to inquiries about his future, Xabi Alonso has addressed rumours that he has been contacted by Bayern Munich and Liverpool over their respective manager searches.

Xabi Alonso has responded to rumours over his future in light of his connections to Bayern Munich and Liverpool. The head coach of Bayer Leverkusen declined to say if he has spoken with either team.

The consensus is that Alonso will replace Jürgen Klopp as manager when the German departs at the end of the current campaign. However, other teams are also considering the former midfielder’s services besides the Reds.

Alonso is reportedly very high on Bayern’s list of candidates to succeed Thomas Tuchel. Whether Bayern surpasses Leverkusen in the Bundesliga race or not, the former Chelsea manager is also expected to leave at the end of the current campaign.

As of right now, Alonso’s team leads the dominant Bavarian team by eight points and is undefeated in all leagues this season. Due to his recent success, the former Spain international has drawn a lot of interest; as a result, two of his former clubs are currently searching for a new manager.

Bayern and Liverpool have also gotten in touch with Alonso’s management, according to Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany. The latter team sees him as their preferred Tuchel substitute. However, Alonso declined to comment on his future this week.
Bayern, Liverpool?

“I don’t have anything new to share,” Alonso (per the ECHO) stated. “I am without a doubt the coach of Bayer Leverkusen at the moment. I have nothing fresh to say about the future.

“Have I heard from Bayern via phone? That is merely conjectural. Once more, I have nothing fresh to share.”

According to Liverpool.com, Alonso will naturally keep his cards close to his vest. He most likely won’t respond to us definitively, at least not while Leverkusen is competing for the Bundesliga championship.

The former midfielder for Liverpool is in an interesting situation. Even though he has only been in charge of Leverkusen for one complete season, two of the top teams in the world are vying for his services.

To make sure it doesn’t pass up what would be an incredible chance, Liverpool may need to move quickly not only in the manager search but also in the hiring of a new sporting director.

More news……

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.

February 23, 2024
The nine-goal, ten-assist right defender Xabi Alonso says a move to Liverpool “would be great.”

One of his star players acknowledges that it “would be great” to play for Liverpool’s manager at the end of the current campaign, Xabi Alonso.

Since Bayer Leverkusen is presently leading the Bundesliga and eight points ahead of Bayern Munich, it is understandable that the team is winning over supporters throughout Europe.

As a result, when Jurgen Klopp leaves Liverpool this summer, the manager will be given consideration for the position, and his players will be offered to other teams.

One can anticipate relationships between Alonso and his star Leverkusen players if he decides to return to Anfield.

One of them might be right-back Jeremie Frimpong, who has already contributed nine goals and ten assists this season. In terms of goal involvements from defenders in Europe’s top five leagues, he is only surpassed by Leverkusen’s Alejandro Grimaldo (21 goals).

Frimpong seems willing to join Liverpool, even if Trent Alexander-Arnold and the developing Conor Bradley are already there for that role.

According to Dutch newspaper Voetbal International, the 23-year-old acknowledged that playing for the Reds “would be great” in an interview with Ziggo Sport.

Liverpool? Fantastic club with a rich past. When inquired whether he could envision himself accompanying Alonso to Merseyside, he replied, “That would be great.”

“You never know what the future holds.”

The roster that Klopp left behind is likely to be viewed differently by any new manager that takes over the Anfield dugout, which might result in alterations throughout the summer.

Even though right-back isn’t usually thought of as a problem position (unless the incoming manager decides to shift Alexander-Arnold to midfield), Frimpong is one of the best in Europe at that position.

The Netherlands international could at least come up in discussions about potential targets if Alonso took control.

It would appear that persuading Frimpong to join would not present any difficulties, indicating the attraction Liverpool would retain even with a new manager.

When Fenway Sports Group signed Brendan Rodgers, it was definitely a better move than when he was connected to Ashley Williams and Dorus de Vries!

More news…….

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.

February 20, 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
A “stand-out” candidate has been approved by Jurgen Klopp to take over as Liverpool manager.

Liverpool is actively seeking a replacement for Jurgen Klopp, and although the retiring German manager will not be engaged in the hiring process, he has already made his decision regarding the front-runner.

Xabi Alonso is the “stand-out” manager among the current breed of managers, according to Jurgen Klopp.

When Klopp departs Liverpool this summer, Alonso is the overwhelming frontrunner to take over as manager. The former player for the Reds is pursuing three trophies with Bayern Leverkusen. When Klopp said he is amazed at how well he is performing at Leverkusen, he was not referring to him as a possible successor.

“Xabi is performing exceptionally well,” the Reds manager remarked. “As for the rumours, those are entirely unrelated. Eight weeks ago, if you had asked me about Xabi Alonso, I would have said, ‘Oh my God.’”

The dinosaurs, Ancelotti, Mourinho, Guardiola, and possibly me won’t be doing it for the next 20 years. Well, maybe Mourinho won’t, but the rest of us won’t either. In my opinion, Xabi is the most exceptional member of the upcoming generation that is presently here.

The speed at which Alonso has turned Leverkusen around—they were near the bottom of the Bundesliga when he took over 16 months ago—has particularly pleased Klopp.

They are currently vying for titles in the Europa League, the Bundesliga, and the German Cup, also known as the DFB Pokal. “I’m impressed by how quickly his team has become so well-oiled,” Klopp remarked. He has given it his due stamp, notwithstanding the delay.

“It’s unclear whether he like to play that manner all the time or if this squad plays that way in particular. Although he hasn’t been in the industry long enough to know for sure, the coaching aspect is undoubtedly great. That is evident.

“He’s a former elite athlete who comes from a coaching family, which certainly helps a little bit as well. Even as a player, he had the coaching mentality. His play on the football pitch, the squads he assembled, and his moves were all very remarkable.

Last Saturday, Leverkusen defeated rivals Bayern Munich 3-0 to take a five-point lead in the Bundesliga title race, and Klopp believes his squad was superior. With Borussia Dortmund in 2012, Klopp became the last manager to deny Bayern the Bundesliga. He says that it is exceedingly uncommon for an opponent to outperform Bayern.

The German remarked, “I played in the Bundesliga for a long time and that is super-impressive.” Not just how many points they score, but also how they play.It is uncommon for Leverkusen to have been the superior team in the opening game.

Sincerely, our victory over Bayern at Dortmund was the result of some excellent defence, counterattacking, and momentum-building. However, Leverkusen were just superior. Given his brief tenure and the youthful age of the team, that was most likely the true surprise.

“He has brought in tremendous players for this squad, just what they needed, and that’s a truly unique role. Everyone would say the same thing. This is how people talk in Germany. Whoa, that’s quite amazing.

Because Leverkusen is performing so well on three fronts, Klopp believes they can finally give up their terrible nickname, Neverkusen.

“Leverkusen have a very good chance to win the Cup, especially since they are in the German Cup semi-final and if Gladbach wins, there is only one other Bundesliga team in it,” he stated.

This may be Leverkusen’s big season because, as you can see, they are among the favourites in the Europa League as well. It’s truly absurd.

February 17, 2024
4 things will ‘certainly’ occur if Tim Steidten is appointed sporting director of Liverpool.

The role of sporting director at Liverpool has been associated with Tim Steidten. Taking the reins would undoubtedly result in four things happening.

It will be a difficult assignment for Liverpool to find someone to succeed Jürgen Klopp. However, there are other positions that also require attention.

Along with Klopp, many of his closest lieutenants are also leaving, including Vitor Matos, the development coach, and assistant manager Pep Lijnders. The new Liverpool manager will probably bring in their own backroom personnel, so there won’t be much more work to do there.

However, Jörg Schmadtke’s position as sporting director, which became vacant at the end of last month, is not one that will open up on its own. The Athletic claims that Liverpool has previously had a plan to bring back Michael Edwards rejected; Tim Steidten is another name that is circulating.

Steidten, who is currently at West Ham, was formerly at Bayer Leverkusen and has a successful transfer history at both teams. When Sky Germany recently questioned him about links, he wasn’t exactly in a rush to remove them:

“I’ve heard that I am supposed to be on the list at Liverpool,” he replied. It’s an honour because it’s one of the largest clubs in the world. However, I haven’t heard from any Liverpool residents yet.

“At West Ham, I usually feel really at ease. I was soon struck by how competitive this league is. We thus acquired the appropriate players during the most recent transfer windows. We can accomplish our ambitions because we have a great squad.

“I am excited to tackle the upcoming weeks and months leading up to the season’s conclusion. Naturally, we are already organising for the upcoming window. We shall see what the future holds.”

It’s only a step or two away, so it’s not exactly a come-and-get-me request. The following four events would “certainly” occur if Liverpool were to sign Steidten.

Xabi Alonso signing

I mean, it’s just too evident to ignore? It’s safe to assume that Steidten’s employment of Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen went well the one time around. He would undoubtedly be eager to plan a reunion.

It is anticipated that Liverpool will choose a sporting director prior to selecting a new manager, thus whoever is appointed to the position will have a vote in the selection. Steidten is sure that he has a solid working relationship with Alonso and will have the authority to make wise transfers.

It’s crucial that the manager and sporting director have this relationship. Because of their constant rapport, Klopp and Edwards were able to pull off some of the most consistently profitable transfer deals in history.

The name Lucas Paquetá crops up

Steidten has already made quite an impression at the London Stadium, and West Ham will undoubtedly hope he stays rather than leaving. Edson Álvarez and Mohammed Kudus have left behind a substantial legacy.

During Steidten’s watch, Jarrod Bowen also inked a long-term contract. If the German moved, it probably wouldn’t halt Liverpool connections because the winger is frequently brought up as a possible Salah replacement.

Actually, though, judging on his track record as sporting director, Steidten seems more likely to focus on finding a younger, longer-term answer to that specific issue. Furthermore, Lucas Paquetá may be a more plausible moniker if he were to attack West Ham.

Major interest has reportedly been expressed in Manchester City (including via Football Insider). Steidten, though, might tip the odds in Liverpool’s favour because the 26-year-old seems destined for a major league team.

It remains to be seen whether a move to Anfield would ever happen. Although many would consider Paquetá’s age advantage over Bowen to be significant, Steidten may be more likely to bring rumours from West Ham rather than real acquisitions. Paquetá is only eight months younger than Bowen.

Connections to the Bayer Leverkusen team

Links to the players of Bayer Leverkusen
Even if Liverpool ‘barely’ manages to acquire Alonso, there will undoubtedly be linkages to players at Bayer Leverkusen. A whole flurry of rumours will ensue if Steidten also shows there. Raids on ancient clubs are far from inevitable, despite what the gossip columns say, as Klopp shown, but there are a lot of transactions that make sense on paper.

Anyhow, Piero Hincapié has already been connected to Liverpool (via Bolavip), and Alonso would have the possibility to effortlessly transfer his back three system from Bayer Leverkusen if he signed a left-sided center-back. The Reds appear to need a player with this kind of profile, even in the absence of a system change.

Florian Wirtz is another, who would be a very interesting addition. Although Liverpool already has a wealth of excellent attackers, Klopp has rarely used the young German, who is best suited for the narrow attacking role behind the striker. If Mohamed Salah were to leave, this transfer would become much more likely, and Steidten could undoubtedly assist in making it happen.

The strategy of Jörg Schmadtke continues

Even though Schmadtke’s tenure as sporting director at Liverpool was brief, he will have a respectable legacy. Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endō, and Ryan Gravenberch are the three deals he took the lead on, and they have all showed potential to differing degrees.

It’s difficult to determine just how much influence Schmadtke had over these transactions, but his influence was clearly evident in the dramatic turn to Endō following his loss on Moisés Caicedo. Liverpool would once again be getting someone with outstanding understanding of the Bundesliga in Steidten.

The German top flight is where Endō, Szoboszlai, and Gravenberch were obtained from, as there is value there. Although Steidten isn’t averse to exploring other underutilised sectors, it’s likely that Liverpool will continue to closely monitor the Bundesliga while he is in charge.

February 17, 2024