Danny Murphy thinks he knows who Xabi Alonso will pick between Liverpool and Bayern Munich

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool look set to be embroiled in a battle to extract Xabi Alonso from Bayer Leverkusen.

As well as Alonso’s current club being keen to keep hold of him themselves, the Reds now also face increasing competition from Bayern Munich. Having today announced their decision to part ways with Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season, Bayern are actively looking for a new manager. And Alonso is their pick.

When it comes down to it, the Spanish coach will have the final say. Does he make a sensational return to Liverpool, 15 years on from his exit. Does he come back to Munich, six years after leaving or does he stay and create something at Leverkusen. Well, according to TalkSPORT pundit Danny Murphy, there’s not much debate.

“I don’t see anybody refusing the opportunity to go to Liverpool when you’re at a lesser club because it might not come around again,” says the former Reds midifelder.

“The only thing I could think that might take him to Munich ahead of Liverpool is some sort of family decision. Lifestyle, Germany, I don’t know. Maye kids being settled, who knows. My gut instinct is his relationship with Liverpool supporters while he was there as a player which was so high will get him over the line.

“The reality is, I’d be amazed if he got offered the job to manage Liverpool and turned it down. I’d be amazed.”

Murphy backs Alonso for Liverpool

Murphy’s viewpoint on Alonso is quite interesting because it was he who ultimately paid the price for the Spaniard’s arrival at Liverpool.

Back in 2004, the former England international was still a key player for the Reds. But with Rafa Benitez joining, Murphy was out. In his place came Alonso.

Now, Murph was a fine player who achieved a considerable amount with Liverpool. However, he’d probably be the first to admit that he wasn’t in Xabi’s class.

So, for him to so openly back the man who replaced him at Anfield to come back just shows how desperate Liverpool are to get Alonso.

From our point of view, gut instinct would also suggest that the World Cup winner is set for the Reds.

Liverpool are in a better place than Bayern right now and have a largely young squad that can be shaped in Alonso’s vision. The German giants feel a little sluggish by comparison.

Xabi also seems like a man and a coach who values loyalty. Although he does have a history with Bayern, maybe he wouldn’t be too popular in Leverkusen if he jumped directly from – hopefully – guiding them to a league title straight to their closest competitiors.

There are plenty of reasons he would move back to Munich of course. But to do so immediately from Leverkusen would maybe seem a touch out of character.

In the future, Bayern will probably always be there for Alonso. Even if that isn’t the case and his coaching career goes South, wouldn’t he rather it did so having had the chance to come back to a place he once so lovingly called home? Time will tell, but we agree with Murphy.