Liverpool icon John Aldridge thinks hiring Xabi Alonso is a big gamble value taking for his former membership.
The 65-year-old, who scored 63 targets in 104 video games for the Reds, says he is been following Alonso’s managerial profession for the reason that starting, and reckons the Spaniard stands a greater probability than anybody of efficiently filling Jurgen Klopp’s footwear.
Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten in all competitions this season and are closing in on their first ever Bundesliga crown after thrashing title rivals Bayern Munich on the weekend. But not solely that, they’re taking part in a few of the most eye-catching and tactically astute soccer round, and Liverpool followers are understandably drooling on the prospect of seeing Alonso within the Anfield dugout subsequent season.
READ MORE: Jamie Carragher identifies ‘brightest younger supervisor’ he desires to switch Jurgen Klopp
READ MORE: Bayer Leverkusen chief provides three explanation why Xabi Alonso will not stop for Liverpool
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“I’ve watched Alonso from his days at Real Sociedad and he looks the real deal,” Aldridge wrote within the Liverpool Echo. “As a former Sociedad striker, I’ve always kept an interest in how my old side have been getting on and he became the first man to take them to the second tier of Spanish football for the first time in over 50 years back in 2021.
“As a participant he realized from a few of the greatest managers round and received completely every thing with membership and nation throughout a embellished profession with the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Spain. All that information has been on show this season at Leverkusen.”
How lengthy will it take Xabi Alonso to get Liverpool taking part in the sort of soccer Leverkusen are at the moment taking part in? Let us know within the feedback part beneath.
Aldridge added that Alonso “absolutely loves Liverpool” and insists having a private reference to each the membership and the followers is actually necessary, notably for the individual changing a talismanic determine like Klopp.
Liverpool could face competitors for Alonso’s signature in the summertime. The former midfielder has a clause in his Leverkusen contract which permits him to go away for a former membership, similar to Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, ought to an method be made.
(Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket by way of Getty Images)
Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel is predicted to be sacked if his aspect do the unthinkable and fail to retain the Bundesliga title for the twelfth successive season (unforgivable, I do know), and Los Blancos supervisor Carlo Ancelotti has been linked with a departure for a while, regardless of his group’s blinding present type. But Liverpool will really feel they’ve the sting on these golf equipment, notably since they’re free to begin the courting course of now.
Aldridge spent two-and-a-half years at Anfield as a participant, having joined his boyhood membership from Oxford United in 1987. He signed for Real Sociedad, whose B group gave Alonso his first managerial job, in 1989 and bagged 40 targets in 79 video games earlier than shifting again to England. He spent the rest of his profession at Tranmere earlier than hanging up his boots in 1998.