26 March 2024 , 11:31
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Broadcaster Richard Keys claims he's heard that Xabi Alonso has decided to join Liverpool and replace Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season.
Klopp, 56, confirmed in January that he will be stepping down this summer, admitting he is "running out of energy" and is "convinced" quitting is the right decision to make. The German has won several major honours since replacing Brendan Rodgers in October 2015, including the Premier League and Champions League.
However, the Reds now have the difficult task of finding a successor for Klopp, who has achieved so much during his time at Anfield. Former Liverpool midfielder Alonso is among the favourites to replace Klopp, having guided Bayer Leverkusen to 38 matches unbeaten as they eye a historic first Bundesliga title.
And Keys has now shared information that Alonso has made the decision to leave Leverkusen and move to Liverpool. He said in his blog : "As I always say when I share news like this - these big deals can always go wrong. There's a lot to go wrong when they're blue riband, whether it's a player or coach/manager involved, but my information is that Alonso has decided on Liverpool."
Reports in Germany have suggested that Alonso would prefer to stay in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich also interested in the sought-after Spaniard. Thomas Tuchel is set to leave the Allianz Arena at the end of the season, less than a year after guiding Bayern to the title.
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Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeness delivered his thoughts on their potential pursuit of Alonso and hinted that he is their first-choice candidate to replace Tuchel this summer. At a Munich Trade Fair, the 72-year-old said: "He [Alonso] has proved that he can be a coach for the big time.
Alonso could replace Thomas Tuchel at the Allianz Arena in the summer (Lars Baron/Getty Images)Should Xabi Alonso replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool? Let us know in the comments below!
"There are hardly any suitable coaches who are currently free. Rather they are coaches who are under contract somewhere and possibly have great success.
"And that makes it much more difficult because clubs like Liverpool, Real Madrid, Leverkusen and FC Bayern are working on it [securing Alonso]. It’s not so easy to tell them that Bayern is the measure of all things."
Alonso still has over two years to run on his contract at Leverkusen and could lead them into the Champions League next season. Leverkusen are 10 points clear at the top of the table with eight matches remaining and it would require an almighty collapse for them not to win the title.
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