Xabi Alonso's agent confirms Liverpool contact as full conditions to take job revealed
Xabi Alonso's agent has confirmed that Liverpool have already made contact about potentially replacing Arne Slot.
Less than 12 months after leading Liverpool to their second domestic title of the Premier League era, Slot is facing serious pressure regarding his future as manager.
Under the Dutchman's leadership, the reigning champions have lost 10 matches in the Premier League this season for the first time since 2015-16.
In light of the disappointing season, it's been regularly reported that Slot could be sacked at the end of the season, or sooner, with Liverpool legend Alonso the frontrunner to replace him in the Anfield dugout.
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Alonso is currently a free agent after he left his position as Real Madrid manager after less than eight months in charge in January, meaning a move could be relatively straightforward.
And now, it appears that it could be more advanced than we had believed, as Alonso's agent has revealed that Liverpool and his client remain in contact ahead of a potential deal.
According to German outlet BILD, Alonso's agent, Inaki Ibanez, recently confirmed that there is concrete interest from Liverpool, with chief executive Michael Edwards eager to make a move for Alonso as early as spring 2024.
The report claims that the Spaniard's impressive tenure with Bayer Leverkusen bookmarked him as the perfect successor to Liverpool's legendary manager Jurgen Klopp.
Of course, Alonso later joined Real Madrid and Liverpool appointed Slot, but this doesn't mean that contact between the club and their former player has stopped.
But, the report adds that, although Alosno would be willing to make the move, it would only be on his terms, with the manager eager to have an increased influence over squad planning.
That's because he is eager to avoid a similar situation to what happened at Real Madrid, where he reportedly felt that his wishes were rejected before his contract was even signed.
The report also adds that the the German coach is not considering taking over during the current season and would only make the move if Liverpool came in with a concrete offer in the summer.
Should Slot be replaced by Alonso in the summer it would be just one part of a major overhaul expected at Anfield in the coming months after star forward Mohamed Salah confirmed that he will leave the club after the season – despite having a contract until 2027.
Topics: Liverpool, Xabi Alonso, Arne Slot, Premier League, Football
Ben McCrum