Could secret release clause in Xabi Alonso’s contract lead to him succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool? Ex-Anfield midfielder is Europe’s hottest coach after working wonders at Bayer Leverkusen and he’ll be Reds’ No 1 target

Jurgen Klopp’s shock announcement of his departure from Liverpool will only increase speculation that former midfielder Xabi Alonso will succeed him at Anfield.

The 42-year-old Spaniard, who helped Liverpool win the Champions League for five successful years, was immediately declared the favorite by the bookmakers to succeed Klopp.

Alonso is having an exceptional season under the management of German club Bayer Leverkusen, who remain unbeaten in 18 Bundesliga games and have a four-point lead over Bayern Munich at the top.

Late last year, Alonso was linked with three of his former clubs – Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich – amid rumors of a release clause in his Leverkusen contract.

That suggested Alonso could walk away from Leverkusen this year if any of the trio came knocking.

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Leverkusen chief executive Fernando Carro denied the existence of such a clause, but admitted Alonso could still leave.

When asked if the exit clause existed in November, Carro said: ‘No, but you don’t need a clause. We have a very good relationship with Xabi and he knows that we are a serious club.

‘And ultimately we’re not going to force someone to stay if they don’t want to stay.

‘We want him to feel so happy and so good with us that he actually just wants to stay – and that is our goal.

‘There is nothing on paper (that could allow Alonso to leave for a former club). But sometimes agreements that are not on paper are also agreements.

“We know that if he has to make a move in the future, we can talk to each other.

‘And I hope he doesn’t have to do this because he will stay and be happy at Leverkusen.’

But the Klopp news will only increase speculation that Alonso could move this summer and Carro’s comments suggest Leverkusen would not stand in his way.

In the meantime, Leverkusen will be fighting on three fronts as they chase success and silverware.

They host Bayern Munich, who have won the last 11 Bundesliga titles, on February 10, and that match will likely go some way to determining the momentum of the title race.

Alonso’s team, which has won universal praise in Germany and beyond, will take on Stuttgart in the quarter-finals of the German Cup on February 6.

After topping their Europa League group with a perfect six wins from six, they will compete in the last 16 in March.

However, Liverpool could face some competition for Alonso if they move for him.

Bayern could be looking for a new boss amid suggestions. Thomas Tuchel is fighting for his job after outspoken criticism of the performance of his players in training.

The news announced last month that Carlo Ancelotti has agreed to a contract extension with Real Madrid until 2026 rules out the possibility of Alonso moving there in the short term.

Klopp stunned the football world on Friday morning when he announced he will leave Liverpool in the summer after nine years in charge.

The German coach said he had ‘run out of energy’ after winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup during his tenure.

“I will leave the club at the end of the season,” he said. ‘I can understand that it is a shock for many people at the moment when you hear it for the first time, but of course I can explain it – or at least try to explain it.

‘I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff. I love everything. But the fact that I am still making this decision shows that I am convinced that this is the decision I have to make.

‘It’s that, how should I put it, I have no energy anymore. I don’t have a problem with it now, of course I knew for some time that I would have to announce it at some point, but I’m doing absolutely fine now. I know I can’t do the work again and again and again and again.

‘After the years we had together and after all the time we spent together and after all the things we went through together, the respect for you grew, the love for you grew and the least I owe you is the truth – and that’s the truth. truth.’