Jürgen Klopp may need to wait for two transfer ‘targets,’ so Xabi Alonso is powerless to assist Liverpool.
Given Xabi Alonso’s stellar managerial debut, Liverpool has shown interest in two players; however, it looks as though any chances of a double deal have been dashed.
Xabi Alonso has taken to management like a duck to water.
Having led Bayer Leverkusen away from the threat of relegation last season and into the European places in the Bundesliga, the former Liverpool midfielder looks as though he could be mounting a title challenge this time around.
Leverkusen have made a storming start to the campaign.
Unbeaten in its first 10 games, winning nine of them, only Bayern Munich have ever made a better start to a season in Germany.
Alonso’s success has led many a Liverpool fan to suggest he will be the ideal heir to Jürgen Klopp when the time eventually comes for the German to move on.
The only problem with that is Real Madrid could pretty soon put a spanner in the works.
But it’s not just the classy former midfielder supporters have their eyes on. Leverkusen’s players are also garnering plenty of interest, and one star in particular has been getting the Reds excited.
Florian Wirtz has been one of the standout players in Germany this season, and while Liverpool’s new-look midfield looks to be making real progress, fans have still been hopeful that Alonso’s connection to Anfield might just lead to a transfer to Anfield. Those dreams though look to have been shattered.
Leverkusen’s managing director Simon Rolfes has ruled out selling Wirtz completely as the January window approaches.
“No, no one has approached us — and no one needs that,” Rolfes told German publication Kicker.
Asked whether the club would entertain a bid in the region of $98m (£80m/€92m) for its star players, Rolfes added: “No we are a football club. Not a bank.”
Considering Liverpool’s apparent stance on not feeling the need to bolster its midfield in January (as per the ECHO), missing out on Wirtz in the New Year might not come as too big a blow for the Reds.
What could be more devastating though is missing out on one of his teammates.
If we are to take Rolfes’ comments at face value, then we can probably also rule out Liverpool making a move for Piero Hincapié.
The defender has also been linked with a move to Anfield, with his agent Manuel Sierra claiming last month that the Reds were in talks over a potential January move (as per the Metro).
Leverkusen though looks as though it will be playing hardball, and you can’t really blame them.
If Alonso still has them in a strong position at the turn of the year, they’ll need to hold on to all of their biggest stars in order to end Bayern’s stranglehold on the Bundesliga.
Hincapié could have been the ideal signing for Klopp as he moves onto his defense as part of his Liverpool 2.0 project.
The Ecuador international is not only a left-footed center-back, something Liverpool has lacked for some time now, but he is also capable of playing at left-back, which means he would be perfect for the Reds’ system.
As it stands though, unless Alonso can put in an exceptionally good word, Liverpool will have to look elsewhere.
Both Wirtz and Hincapié are top-class players in the making, but the Reds might have to wait if they ever decide to make a move.
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