Xabi Alonso ‘set to announce his decision to STAY at Bayern Leverkusen today’… with Liverpool left in the lurch as they continue to look for Jurgen Klopp’s successor
- Xabi Alonso will announce his decision to stay at Bayern Leverkusen
- Alonso has been heavily linked with replacing Jurgen Klopp at Anfield
- Why defeat to Arsenal will be the curtain raiser for Man City’s title defense – Listen to the It all starts podcast
According to reports, Xabi Alonso will announce his decision to stay at Bayern Leverkusen during the press conference later today.
The 42-year-old will address the crowd at 2pm ahead of his side’s Bundesliga match against Hoffenheim on Saturday afternoon.
According to BILAlonso will announce his decision to stay at the German club, rejecting Liverpool and Bayern Munich, who were both interested.
The news will come as a blow to Liverpool as the former Reds midfielder has been heavily linked with Jurgen Klopp’s replacement at Anfield.
Alonso’s decision to stay at Leverkusen leaves Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim as the leading candidate to take over at Liverpool.
Xabi Alonso will announce his decision to stay at Bayern Leverkusen later today
Jürgen Klopp will leave Liverpool this summer after almost nine years at the helm
Amorim, 39, is expected to be given an interview with the Premier League giants after scoring well in Liverpool’s data tests.
Bayern Munich had also registered an improving Alonso, perhaps a tactic to disrupt Leverkusen’s title bid this season.
However, Bayern Munich club president Uli Hoeness said it would be ‘probably impossible’ to bring the Spaniard to Munich this year.
Liverpool’s recruitment campaign, led by new sporting director Richard Hughes and football chief executive Michael Edwards, will now focus on Amorim and De Zerbi, whose Brighton side visit Anfield on Sunday.
Alonso, who was seen as Liverpool’s dream target, has overseen a revolution at Bayer Leverkusen since joining in October 2022.
When he signed up they were in the relegation zone, but he sent them into the top six.
This season they are ten points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga, are unbeaten all season and are in the last eight of the Europa League for the second year in a row.
It has been an historic season, with Leverkusen on course to win their first Bundesliga title barring a major failure, conceding just eighteen goals in the process.
Alonso was Liverpool’s main target to replace Klopp, but they are now turning their attention to Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim (pictured above)
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is behind candidate Amorim for the position
After cutting his teeth at Real Sociedad B for three seasons, he has revitalized the Rhine club, winning 50 of his 75 games, losing just 10 of them.
Bayern are faced with the prospect of their first season without winning a trophy since 2011/2012 – after 11 consecutive title wins – and therefore consider Tuchel redundant.
Liverpool’s attention now turns to Amorim and De Zerbi at the top of their shortlist, both candidates with significant credentials.
Amorim has already led Sporting CP to one Portuguese league title and this time they are back at the top of the table.
De Zerbi guided Brighton to sixth place in the Premier League last season and took them to the last 16 of the Europa League in their first continental adventure. The Seagulls visit Anfield on Sunday.