Liverpool have Xabi Alonso alternative lined up with Man Utd target the next 'strongest candidate'

Liverpool have identified their ideal alternative to Xabi Alonso should the Spaniard reject the opportunity to take over at Anfield in the summer, it has been claimed.

While Alonso is considered the favourite to take over at Liverpool at the end of the season, Bayern Munich are also thought to be interested in the Bayer Leverkusen boss' services. Sky Germany have even suggested Alonso may prefer a move to the Bavarian outfit, after the club announced Thomas Tuchel is set to depart in the summer.

In turn, according to the Independent's Miguel Delaney, should the Reds miss out on the opportunity to bring in Alonso, they will attempt to convince Sporting boss Ruben Amorim to join the Anfield club.

The publication claims that should Alonso decide to go elsewhere, Amorim is considered the "most desirable candidate".

The Portuguese boss, who has been frequently linked to the Manchester United in the past, has been impressive in restoring Sporting to glory after decades of domination from Benfica and Porto.

Amorim is currently said to be seen as a likelier option than Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi.

Alonso is widely thought to be the leading candidate for the Liverpool job, having so far guided Leverkusen to an unbeaten season and five point advantage at the Bundesliga summit.

But the Spaniard has attracted the interest of most major clubs, with Liverpool, Munich and Barcelona all keen.

Amorim has impressed at Sporting (Getty)

Liverpool are also in the hunt for a sporting director and technical staff.

According to Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg, Alonso is more likely to accept tha Bayern job than move to Liverpool.

Plettenberg said: "It’s not 100 per cent clear that Xabi Alonso will say, ‘Yes’ to FC Bayern, and all the Bayern bosses are informed about the difficulty of this possible transfer from Xabi Alonso to Bayern Munich.

“But my understanding is that at this stage Xabi Alonso is more willing to join Bayern Munich instead of joining Liverpool.

“And this is also news I can give you. Bayern Munich have already inquired about Xabi Alonso but we also have heard that Liverpool have also inquired about Xabi Alonso in the last few days and weeks.”

Topics: Liverpool, Xabi Alonso, Anfield

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.