Xabi Alonso has spoken to five different clubs as he prepares to return to management this summer, FootballTransfers has been told.
The Spaniard left Real Madrid by mutual consent in January, despite overseeing 24 wins in 34 games in charge of Los Blancos, and he has been heavily linked with a number of teams ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Alonso has emerged as a strong contender to replace Arne Slot if the Dutchman is sacked by Liverpool, while we have been informed that he has been earmarked as Paris Saint-Germain’s preferred successor to Luis Enrique if the 55-year-old departs amid significant interest from Real Madrid.
Furthermore, sources have also told us that Alonso has already spoken to Manchester City, Manchester United, Benfica, Sporting CP and Porto ahead of this summer.
The 44-year-old is yet to make a decision on his preferred club for next season, but negotiations have been initiated as he eyes a swift return to management.
Xabi Alonso to return to the Premier League?
A move to Liverpool has been widely reported as Alonso’s most likely next step, but the Spaniard could be set to move to Manchester instead following talks with Man City and Man Utd.
Both clubs are understood to be in the hunt for a new manager, with Pep Guardiola potentially set to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer and Man Utd yet to decide whether to appoint Michael Carrick on a permanent basis following a successful interim spell.
As exclusively revealed by The Transfers Podcast in January, Alonso is on Man City’s shortlist of possible successors to Guardiola and we can now confirm that talks have taken place with the Spaniard.
Before his move to Real Madrid, Alonso enjoyed a sublime spell in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, notably guiding the club to the first ever Bundesliga title while going unbeaten throughout the entire German top flight season.
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