Liverpool supporters are taking a keen interest in Xabi Alonso’s future at Real Madrid as he edges closer to the exit door.
The Spaniard had been hotly tipped to re-join the Reds in 2024 following Jurgen Klopp’s surprise exit as manager.
However, after deciding to stay on for an extra year at Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso eventually joined Madrid last summer.
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Things have quickly turned sour for the 44-year-old at his former club, though, with players reportedly unhappy at his intense training methods.
Two wins in eight matches mean Alonso is on the brink of the sack, and with Liverpool also struggling under Arne Slot, a theory has been developing that the former Reds midfielder is being lined up to replace the Dutchman. According to journalist Juliens Laurens, however, that is not the case.
Xabi Alonso to Liverpool could take at least two years
Given his history as a fan-favourite with Liverpool, Alonso taking over at Anfield in 2024 would have made total sense.
Despite that, it was always clear that he wanted to manage Real Madrid at some point, too. Now that he has tried his hand at the Bernabeu already, the fear of him once again leaving for Los Blancos has been removed.
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As a result, the timing here could arguably line up perfectly for Liverpool. If both Slot and Alonso are relieved of their duties it would feel like an obvious next move.
Speaking on ESPN FC, however, Laurens claims Liverpool are still fully behind Slot, and while he claims that Alonso will almost certainly manage the Reds at some stage, it could be years down the line.
“Not now, I don’t think so,” he said when asked if Liverpool will replace Slot with the World Cup winner.
“I think they will give Slot more time to turn things around, once the Mo Salah issue has been resolved, whatever that is, I think they still believe that Slot can turn things around. I don’t think right now they’re thinking about changes anywhere.
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“Maybe in two years’ time,” he added. “I still think Xabi Alonso will be a Liverpool head coach/manager but I don’t think right now if he gets sacked they will move straight in for him.”
Don’t rule Alonso out of earlier move
Despite Laurens’ dismissal, there does feel to be a very real possibility that Alonso could end up at Liverpool far sooner than anticipated.
Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes were clearly keen on the former Spain international to replace Jurgen Klopp, and it is unlikely that a bad spell at Real would change that.
If he does suddenly become available, there is little question that the pressure on Slot would be ramped up a notch.
Should the Liverpool head coach get back to winning ways with his team, then that will become redundant. The Reds do not want to make a change if at all possible.
But if things carry on as they are, and Alonso is there ready and waiting, it is easy to see how this timeline could be brought forward significantly.
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