Liverpool’s denial of a crucial contract condition delivered a blow to Jurgen Klopp’s succession plan.
When Jurgen Klopp’s contract expires in 2026, Liverpool will continue to monitor prospective managers.
Liverpool’s plans of replacing Jurgen Klopp with club legend Xabi Alonso have been dealt a major blow by Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro.
The Reds have reportedly already been assessing candidates to become their next manager, with numerous options around Europe being explored.
Klopp has enjoyed an impressive reign as Liverpool’s manager, and the thought of parting ways with the German boss will strike fear into the hearts of supporters.
The 56-year-old is contracted to the Merseyside outfit until 2026 after penning an extension last year, and Klopp will be hoping to add to his silverware cabinet in that time.
Assistant manager Pep Lijnders and Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi are among the bookmaker’s favourites to succeed Klopp in the Anfield dugout, though ex-midfielder Alonso is also a strong candidate to fill the vacancy.
The Spaniard is thriving as Bayer Leverkusen manager, with his side unbeaten in their opening 11 matches of the season – winning 10 of those games.
Alonso has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool in the future as a result, with speculation brewing that there is a specific clause in his contract to facilitate such a move.
However, Leverkusen chief Carro has shut down those reports, claiming that there are no exit mechanisms for any specific clubs. Asked whether there were any clauses, Carro said: “No, but you don’t need a clause.
“We have a very, very good relationship with Xabi and he knows we are a serious club. And at the end of the day, we’re not going to force someone to stay if he doesn’t want to stay.
“We want him to feel so happy and so good with us that he really only wants to stay and this is our objective… There is nothing on paper [allowing Xabi to leave for a former club]. But sometimes agreements that are not on paper are agreements as well.
“We know if he needs to do a move in the future we will be able to talk with each other. And I hope we will not need to do this because he will stay and be happy at Leverkusen.”
Alonso has also been heavily linked with succeeding Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid at the end of the season, with the former Everton boss expected to become Brazil’s national team’s manager.
READ NEXT:
Ray Houghton says Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister is playing too deep
Liverpool legend Ray Houghton recently shared his insights into the revamped midfield dynamics at Anfield and the former Liverpool star believes that Jurgen Klopp’s strategic changes in the midfield have injected a newfound vibrancy into the heart of the team.
Houghton admired the manager’s decision to infuse youthful energy into the midfield. The changes, according to him, have
been instrumental in elevating Liverpool’s game to new heights this season. The infusion of fresh, dynamic players has
added an extra dimension to the team’s overall strategy.
Houghton specifically highlighted the impact of players like Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, emphasizing their
seamless integration into Klopp’s system. The former Liverpool midfielder praised the abundance of talent at Klopp’s
disposal, especially in the forward positions, creating a unique advantage that sets Liverpool apart from many other teams.
Ray Houghton says Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister is playing too deep.
Here is what Houghton had to say, in an interview with BBC about Alexis Mac Allister:
“The likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have fitted in and Alexis will be even better when he pushes a bit further up the pitch.”
“I watched him at Brighton and I liked him a bit further up, being the creator. He’s got great awareness and great vision, plus he can score goals. He’s sitting back and playing a bit deeper at the moment, which the manager has asked for, but I like the dynamic of the midfield.”
Play Macca at 8, Jurgen
Macca is currently operating in a deeper role but his true potential shines when positioned further up the pitch. Like most Liverpool fans, Houghton sees the Argentine as a creative force with exceptional awareness, vision, and goal-scoring ability.
Best believe this is just a stop-gap due to the lack of a proper defensive midfielder at the club. While Jurgen Klopp has Wataru Endo at his disposal, he seems to want to create chances from deep as well. Apart from that, there is absolutely no reason a player as creative as Macca should play so deep, especially when we have a player who is a natural in that position.
Leave a Reply