Liverpool handed devastating Xabi Alonso update as Spaniard ‘makes shock decision’

It has been reported that Liverpool would not put Xabi Alonso on their shortlist of managers to succeed Jurgen Klopp.

From the moment Klopp declared in January that he would be leaving his position as Liverpool manager at the end of the current campaign, Alonso has been the front-runner to take over at Anfield.

The Times, however, reports that Liverpool is expected to explore elsewhere since they think the Spaniard won’t be available this summer.

The move will help Roberto De Zerbi, manager of Brighton & Hove Albion, and Sporting head coach Ruben Amorim in their respective quests.

Alonso joined Leverkusen in October 2022, when the German team was wallowing in the relegation zone, and it is alleged that he wants to stay for another season.

The club is currently unbeaten in all competitions this season and sits 10 points ahead of second-place Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga after he drastically changed their fortunes.

Given that Bayern will be parting ways with Thomas Tuchel at the end of the current campaign, the Bavarian giants are also interested in Alonso.

Although honorary president Uli Hoeness stated on Thursday that it would be “impossible” to entice Alonso away from Leverkusen, Bayern has been open about their pursuit of the 42-year-old.

“We’ll have to see if we can do it this year,” he admitted. “It will be difficult, if not probably impossible.

“[Alonso] is more inclined to stay at Bayer Leverkusen in view of their current successes, because he would not want to leave them behind,” Hoeness said. “Let’s say if he had two or three more years of success, it would probably be easier to bring him out of there.”

According to The Times, Liverpool came to this decision on Alonso following thorough background investigations aimed at determining the availability and suitability of possible Klopp replacements.