Xabi Alonso is unlikely to leave Leverkusen this summer

Reports on Thursday evening suggest Liverpool will have to look elsewhere for their new manager, with Xabi Alonso looking increasingly likely to stay at Bayer Leverkusen for at least one more season.

Ever Since Jurgen Klopp announced his retirement in January, there has only been one name on Liverpool fan's wishlist - Xabi Alonso. But if reports on Thursday evening are accurate, then Liverpool look set to suffer a second disappointment this season - with Alonso looking increasingly likely to stay with current side Bayer Leverkusen for at least one more season.

That's the view of various respected journalists and football experts, including Fabrizio Romano and Paul Joyce, who took to Twitter yesterday evening to share the bad news.  This follows on from statements made by Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness earlier in the week, who said that prizing Alonso away from Leverkusen was 'probably impossible', and while we don't have too much faith in what Hoeness says, yesterday's reports are far more credible.

If Alsonso has decided to stay with Leverkusen, then Liverpool's new CEO of Football, Michael Edwards, will need to act quickly, with just 6 weeks of the current season remaining.

However, some reports suggest Liverpool were never confident of luring Alonso to Anfield this summer, despite the 'noise' and publicity surrounding the former Reds midfielder, and the club has been looking at other options from the start.  While this would be disappointing, in light of yesterday's news, it would make sense that Edwards and new Sporting Director, Richard Hughes, have been looking at other options, knowing Alonso was likely to honour his word and stay in Germany.

Liverpool's next manager

With Xabi Alonso seemingly out of the running to be Liverpool's next manager, who are the candidates that Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes are looking at?

Roberto De Zerbi

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi has constantly been linked with the job, since Klopp's announcement in January.  The young Italian plays an attacking brand of football that has won him many plaudits at Brighton, though there are question marks over his defensive abilities.  With better players and a stronger squad, could he be the next young manager to create a dynasty at Anfield?

Ruben Amorim

Another young manager with a growing reputation, Amorim has been working wonders with Sporting CP in the Portuguese league.  He led Sporting to a first league title in 19 years last season, with Sporting on course to retain the title again this year.  He has some European experience, although Sporting lost to Atalanta (who are Liverpool's next opponents) in the Europa League Round of 16.

Julian Nagelsmann

German Nagelsmann had developed a reputation as one of the leading coaches in Europe while at RB Leipzig, earning him a mega-money move to Bayern Munch in 2021.  Despite winning the title in his first season, Nagelsmann left Bayern under a cloud in March 2023, with reports of disharmony in the dressing room.  After a brief spell out of management, he was appointed manager of the German National side for Euro 2024, with his contract expiring after the tournament.  Could Liverpool be set to appoint another German manager?

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