Guillem Balague reveals 'little secret' he knows about Xabi Alonso plans involving Man City

Spanish journalist Guillem Balague has made an interesting claim about Xabi Alonso and his future as he continues to be linked with the Liverpool job.

Alonso recently played down talk of replacing Jurgen Klopp after the German announced his shock decision to step down as Liverpool boss at the end of the season.

The 42-year-old believes he is currently in the “right place” in Germany. "At the moment, I am really happy here and enjoying my work here," Alonso said last month.

"It is a challenge. I am trying to help my players to be at their best. The next one, I don’t know."

He added: "I feel I am in a great place and I am enjoying it. It is the right place. That is all I can say. What is going to happen in the future? I don’t know. And I don’t really care at the moment."

Despite his public statement, Alonso continues to be heavily linked with a move away from Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are predictably being mentioned as potential suitors given his allegiance to all three clubs.

But this week, Spanish reporter Guillem Balague mentioned Premier League champions Manchester City as another possible option.

Speaking to BBC’s The Football News Show, Balague said: “I’ll tell you a little secret.

"When he went to Bayer Leverkusen, he told his agent ‘do you know what, I am thinking that if it doesn’t go well at Bayer Leverkusen, I’ll go back to Real Sociedad.

“But if it goes well, from here, it’s Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich.”

He continued: “Let me add Manchester City to the equation and that’s where Xabi Alonso could go next. When, is a different matter.”

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Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, believes Bayer Leverkusen’s profile and overall style of play is closer to Manchester City than to Liverpool.

“Liverpool are a more direct team, they go faster, they use counter-attacks more," he said on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football.

“Bayer Leverkusen, this team and maybe his influence, is more Pep Guardiola [than Klopp]. It’s more Manchester City - because he’s been his manager.

"But if Xabi Alonso was to become the Liverpool manager, which I think he will, I actually feel Liverpool have been quite fortunate that Jurgen Klopp has left at this time, is moving on, and the time for Xabi Alonso to step in is pretty perfect with the job that he’s doing."