Liverpool reportedly distanced from Alonso race

According to several reports in England on Thursday evening, Liverpool are no longer expecting Xabi Alonso to become their new manager in the summer.

John Percy of The Telegraph, and then David Ornstein of The Athletic, both reported that the Bayer Leverkusen coach is no longer on the Reds’ shortlist with the expectation being that Alonso wants to continue the good work he has done at the BayArena by staying for another season.

Leverkusen were in mid-table in the Bundesliga mid-way through last season but he propelled them to sixth and has also overseen them become a ruthless and remarkably dominant force in Germany this season.

They are ten points clear of Bayern Munich, who have won the last 11 German titles, at the top-of-the-table and remain unbeaten. In fact, they have played 38 matches across all competitions so far this season and have not lost with a potential treble on the cards as they are in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League and the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal.

There is also suggestions that the aforementioned Bayern Munich, another former club of the former central midfielder, are interested in the Spaniard, whilst another former club, Real Madrid, reportedly see him as a long-term replacement for Carlo Ancelotti. Ancelotti’s contract with Los Blancos ends in the summer of 2025 with rumours that he could take the Brazil job ahead of the run up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

Alonso’s initial focus will be on ensuring Leverkusen do clinch a first ever German title, whilst Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim is reportedly in contention for the Liverpool job, along with the likes of Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi.