Liverpool are set to face unwanted competition in their bid to appoint Xabi Alonso as their new manager this summer.
The Spaniard has been earmarked as the club’s primary candidate to replace Arne Slot following the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign, as per multiple reports, and he is available after his departure from Real Madrid earlier this year.
Alonso left Los Blancos by mutual consent after just seven months in charge, but he remains one of the most highly-rated managers in Europe following his immense spell at Bayer Leverkusen, in which he guided the club to their first ever Bundesliga title without losing a single game.
The former Spain midfielder, who made 210 appearances across a hugely successful five-year spell as a player at Liverpool, has been widely linked with a return to Anfield amid rumours that Slot is set to be sacked.
The Dutchman won the Premier League title during his first season with the Reds, but they have regressed massively this term and pressure is beginning to increase significantly following a 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Alonso is regarded as Liverpool’s top target, however they are set to face competition from Chelsea and Man City, as per TEAMtalk.
It’s claimed that Chelsea are keeping a close eye on Alonso’s situation after a poor run of results under Liam Rosenior, while Man City have added the 44-year-old to their list of potential successors to Pep Guardiola.
Liverpool receive Xabi Alonso verdict
Although Alonso is the favourite to become the next Liverpool manager, Reds legend John Barnes believe the club should retain faith in Slot instead. Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, he said: “Well, I understand the clamour because Xabi is a Liverpool favourite. But did he not fail at Real Madrid? Was he actually a successful manager?
“Of course, don’t get me wrong, I think Xabi is great and he did a good job. But he got sacked by Real Madrid for failure, didn’t he? That’s why they got rid of him.
“Of course we do like the clamour for ex-players. Steven Gerrard’s been mentioned before. So I understand the way fans are. But this is the way fans are. They’re very fickle. We won the league with Arne Slot and all of a sudden we want to sack him?
“If he then goes and Alonso comes, suppose Alonso fails in his first six months or first year, are we going to say sack him and bring somebody else in? I always support the managers, whoever they are, because they come to the club because of their success, because they’re good managers, and they have to be given time.
“Jurgen Klopp was 20 points off the top when he first came, but we stuck with him. So I think Xabi will be a great manager one day, but I want Arne Slot to stay.”
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