Liverpool May Potentially Have To Shell Out A Record-Breaking Fee Of £21 Million For The Services Of Xabi Alonso
According to a report, Liverpool might have to pay a near world-record fee if they intend to bring Xabi Alonso to Anfield this summer. The Reds are in search of a new manager following Jurgen Klopp’s announcement earlier this year that he will be leaving his position at the end of the season after an illustrious eight-and-a-half years at the helm.
Klopp’s tenure at Liverpool has been distinguished, with seven major trophies, including this season’s EFL Cup, under his belt. As he prepares to depart, he aims to conclude his reign on a triumphant note, with Liverpool competing for the Premier League, FA Cup, and Europa League titles.
Numerous prominent figures have been linked with the impending managerial vacancy at Liverpool, but Bayer Leverkusen head coach Alonso is reportedly the leading candidate for the 2024-25 campaign.
Alonso previously spent five years as a Liverpool player from 2004 to 2009, amassing 210 appearances across all competitions and clinching four trophies, including the 2005 Champions League.
During his tenure at Leverkusen, the 42-year-old has emerged as one of the most promising young coaches in Europe. Under his guidance, Leverkusen are poised to clinch their maiden Bundesliga title this season.
Currently, Leverkusen is enjoying an impressive 34-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, setting a new German football record. They sit comfortably 10 points ahead of perennial Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich at the top of the table with only 10 games left.
Moreover, Leverkusen has progressed to the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal and is gearing up for their Europa League last-16 encounter against Qarabag FK.
Alonso’s contract with Leverkusen runs until June 2026, and the club’s sporting director, Simon Rolfes, expressed confidence last month that Alonso will remain at the helm for the upcoming season.
Liverpool faces a challenging task in persuading Alonso to leave Leverkusen. According to reports from Sky Sports in Germany, via The Mirror, Liverpool may need to shell out a staggering £21 million to secure his services this summer.
The current world-record fee spent on a manager stands at £21.7 million, which Bayern Munich splashed out to appoint Julian Nagelsmann from RB Leipzig in 2021.
However, Nagelsmann was dismissed in March last year and replaced by Thomas Tuchel. Following a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, Tuchel confirmed that he would be stepping down from his position at the end of the season.
Bayern have since been strongly linked with Alonso, the target of Liverpool. However, reports suggest that the German giants have also identified Feyenoord boss Arne Slot as a potential alternative.
In the event that Liverpool is unsuccessful in securing Alonso, they may consider alternatives such as Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Roberto De Zerbi, and Germany head coach Nagelsmann this summer.
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