Liverpool have been dealt a major blow in their search for Jurgen Klopp’s replacement, after reports Bayern Munich have now entered the race for Xabi Alonso. Bayern could now ‘hijack’ Liverpool’s move for their former midfielder who is believed to be high up on the Reds’ shortlist. He has impressed while in charge of Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen.
It comes after news broke that Bayern will part company with current manager Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season. The ex-Chelsea chief hasn’t even been in charge of the record German champions for a year, but recent results have increased the pressure on his shoulders.
Defeat to relegation candidate VfL Bochum over the weekend saw Tuchel’s Bayern fall eight points behind Leverkusen in the title race. Die Werkself – as they’re known in Germany – have never won a Bundesliga title, with Alonso hoping to deliver them their first this season, at the expense of possible future club Bayern.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Alonso is being courted by Bayern ahead of a potential move to the Allianz Arena at the end of the season. It’s claimed the Bayer boss doesn’t have a formal release clause in his contract, but the side from North Rhine-Westphalia wouldn’t stand in Alonso’s way, should he wish to depart at the end of the campaign.
BILD also report that Bayern will try to ‘hijack’ Liverpool’s swoop for Alonso, 42, if he decides to leave Bayer.
Lifting the Bundesliga title would, of course, sweeten the deal for Leverkusen, if they were to lose Alonso in the summer. But, for the manager himself, it appears a big decision is on the horizon, with both Bayern and Liverpool keen.
Remarkably, given the success he’s enjoyed, Leverkusen is Alonso’s first top-flight job in management, having only previously taken charge of Real Sociedad’s B team. As a result, moving to the Premier League this early on in his managerial career could prove too big of a jump, with Alonso possibly deciding to stay in the Bundesliga and test himself at Germany’s biggest club instead.
Much like Liverpool, Alonso has a special connection with Bayern, having spent three years at the club towards the end of his career. A winner of five major trophies with the Bavarian outfit, Alonso would no doubt be welcomed back to Munich with open arms.
What’s more, taking over from legendary Liverpool manager Klopp could also be a task Alonso isn’t willing to take on. The German has spent the last nine years at Anfield, ushering in a new era of success, but the post-Klopp period at Liverpool is likely to throw up its own unique challenges. And of course, he might even opt to stay at Leverkusen and enjoy his first taste of Champions League football as a manager with the team who are playing so well under him.
