Xabi Alonso expected to stay at Bayer Leverkusen as Liverpool consider other options

Xabi Alonso is expected to stay at Bayer Leverkusen rather than become Liverpool’s new manager, talkSPORT understands.

Reds legend Alonso was seen as the early favourite to replace the outgoing Jurgen Klopp but they are now exploring other options.

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The Spaniard has also been heavily linked with a switch to his fellow former club Bayern Munich, who see Thomas Tuchel leave at the end of the season.

However, Alonso looks set to remain at Leverkusen amid an incredible second year in charge at the club.

The German side are firmly on track to win the Bundesliga title, meaning they are set to enjoy the prospect of competing in next season’s Champions League.

Liverpool will therefore eye other contenders with Ruben Amorim and Roberto De Zerbi rumoured names, and Julian Nagelsmann is currently out of work at club level.

Amorim currently sits top of the Portuguese top-flight with Sporting Lisbon and has also been linked with Chelsea.

De Zerbi has hugely impressed during his time at Brighton, leading them to their first ever campaign in Europe.

Nagelsmann is the current head coach of the German national team and was previously at Bayern, where he won the Bundesliga in 2022.

Whoever Liverpool’s next appointment is has huge shoes to fill when Klopp leaves Anfield.

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The German will call an end to almost a decade in charge of the Reds, where he has won every major honour.

Klopp has helped Liverpool compete with Manchester City for the Premier League title across the past few seasons.

He could end his Liverpool journey on a high with another title in May to add to their Carabao Cup success and potential Europa League triumph.

Alonso though may now not be the man to replace him from next season, with Liverpool’s search set to be prolonged.

As will Bayern’s, with honorary president Uli Hoeness admitting that it would be ‘very difficult’ to hire him at the Allianz Arena.