The departure of Arne Slot from the managerial position at Liverpool seems imminent, with the tenth defeat in the Premier League, this time 1-2 against Brighton, sealing his fate. The 47-year-old coach has not been dismissed immediately due to the poor performance of direct competitors in the race for UEFA Champions League spots. However, the change is expected to happen by the end of the season at the latest, and the desired successor has already been identified, according to Bild: Xabi Alonso. The former coach of Leverkusen and Real Madrid, 44, who led the team to its first German championship title undefeated, does not intend to take on a new team mid-season. Liverpool, on the other hand, is preparing for a deep restructuring, which also includes the departure of forward Mohamed Salah at the end of the season, despite the Egyptian having a contract until 2027. The crisis in results for Liverpool is evident, with the team accumulating only four points in the last four Premier League games. Currently in fifth place, the Reds see their qualification for the Champions League at risk, in a real snail race. Aston Villa, in fourth, is five points ahead but has only earned three points in the last four games. Chelsea, in sixth and one point behind Liverpool, has also secured only three of the last twelve possible points. Arne Slot, Jürgen Klopp's successor, has been trying to justify the poor performance, downplaying the €500 million investment last summer, which included the signings of Florian Wirtz, Ekitiké, and Isak. The coach argues that the club also sold players for over €300 million, such as Luis Díaz to Bayern, to create space in the squad. However, the truth is that Slot has failed to turn the group of stars into a cohesive team. It is in this context that the name of Xabi Alonso emerges. Liverpool's director, Michael Edwards, had already attempted to hire the Spaniard in the spring of 2024, but Alonso declined to focus on the historic campaign with Leverkusen. According to the same source, Edwards has never stopped maintaining contact, and Alonso's agent, Iñaki Ibáñez, recently confirmed the existence of concrete proposals for the former world and European champion. Alonso, who as a player won 18 titles, including a Champions League with Liverpool, is receptive to returning to Anfield Road but imposes conditions. The coach demands to have a say in squad planning, a lesson learned from his time at Real Madrid, where his requests for a striker and a central midfielder were ignored even before he signed. Another lesson was his entry into Real Madrid mid-season to compete in the Club World Cup, something he considered a mistake. The 0-4 defeat against PSG in the new FIFA tournament put him under immediate pressure. Therefore, a move to Liverpool for the final stretch of the season is out of the question, Bild assures. Alonso's return is seen as a great opportunity to enhance a top squad. At Leverkusen, the coach was instrumental in the development of Florian Wirtz, transforming him into a world-class player. At Liverpool, Wirtz is already the main creative reference, and the arrival of his former mentor could give a new boost to both the player and the team.
Liverpool Xabi Alonso remains central to this story.
Liverpool Xabi Alonso remains central to this story.
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