Liverpool staff are keeping an eye on developments at Spanish giants Real Madrid.
The two clubs have faced each other numerous times over the past few years, with Madrid getting the better every time.
They also went head-to-head for Jude Bellingham, with the La Liga club winning that one, too. As a result, you could forgive the Reds for not wanting anything to do with Madrid. However, according to The Independent’s ‘Reading The Game’ newsletter, that isn’t the case.
Instead, Liverpool are reportedly looking closely at Los Blancos to see if they’re planning anything with Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso.
Alonso is doing brilliantly at Leverkusen, and it’s claimed that a move to Madrid this summer is now seen as an ‘inevitably’ by insiders at the Bernabeu.
Although Liverpool aren’t actively looking to replace Jurgen Klopp, Alonso is reportedly already seen as a possible successor to the German. As a result ‘some at Liverpool’ are said to be ‘monitoring’ what’s going on between their former midfielder and Real.
Liverpool keeping tabs on Xabi
As the report here states, it does feel inevitable that Alonso will be off to Madrid this summer.
The 41-year-old is clearly an exceptionally talented manager who may very well win silverware with Leverkusen this season.
As a former Real player, a top young coach and with the Madrid job likely available, all the pieces are in place.
Nevertheless, this shouldn’t deter hope that Alonso will one day be in the hot seat at Anfield.
Klopp still has three years to run on his own contract and may yet sign another one. Liverpool don’t need to worry about this for some time.
By then, who knows what Xabi will be up to. He might have joined Madrid and become the best coach in the world. Maybe he moves back to Spain but fails, and is in another position. We simply can’t know.
In the meantime though, it is worth Liverpool being plugged in to Alonso’s movements and development. He certainly has some unfinished business at Anfield and his love for the club is clear.
When the time is right, we still think Xabi will come home at some point. But it won’t be next summer.
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