Liverpool have reportedly made contact regarding Xabi Alonso as Anfield chiefs appear to reserve their decision regarding Arne Slot’s future after an underwhelming season
Liverpool have reportedly made contact with Real Madrid regarding Xabi Alonso, with claims the Reds hold reservations about the Spanish manager.
Alonso has been strongly tipped for the Anfield role, with mounting pressure on Arne Slot following an underwhelming campaign on Merseyside. Boos rang out at the final whistle during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea, as some supporters voiced their discontent with Slot. Despite clinching the Premier League title last term, sections of the Liverpool faithful have grown tired of the Dutchman and are eager to see Alonso brought in as his successor.
However, Spanish publication AS claims Liverpool have approached contacts at Real Madrid in a bid to understand what transpired during his tenure at the Bernabéu. It’s suggested Liverpool’s hierarchy are developing concerns about Alonso, and may choose to hand Slot another campaign at the helm as a consequence.
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Alonso had been appointed by Real Madrid during the summer, with the former Spain midfielder having overseen a remarkable period at Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen.
Yet just six months into his first season as boss, Alonso was sacked by Real Madrid amid reports of a fractured changing room. The report suggests that despite the friction over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free transfer, Liverpool maintain a solid working relationship with Real Madrid and would value their input. Moreover, the approach is not uncommon – rather, they’re viewed as football’s version of requesting a reference from a former employer.
Liverpool would need a catastrophic collapse to miss out on Champions League qualification, yet with two fixtures remaining this campaign, a top-five berth remains uncertain. When questioned about the jeers following the match, Slot acknowledged he has ground to make up in winning back the Anfield faithful.
He said: “Not this season, by the way. This season, they will have their opinion, and they will not change. But if we can have the summer that we are planning to have, then I’m 100 per cent convinced that we will be a different team next season than we are now.
“Different in terms of results, different in how things look. But it’s not always that simple, because sometimes you know what you have to do, but it’s not always possible to also get exactly what you want. But for us, for me, it’s really clear what we are lacking this season.
“And we are trying, because one of the things we are lacking is players who are fit. But the players that we have available now, I think, again, like last week, showed in the second half that they want to give everything and try to push.”