“Xabi Alonso in the sights of Liverpool after crisis with Slot.”

The atmosphere in Liverpool is charged with tension and expectation, as rumors grow surrounding the imminent departure of Arne Slot from the managerial position. The tenth defeat in the Premier League, the most recent being against Brighton, which ended in a disastrous 1-2, seems to have sealed the fate of the 47-year-old coach. Although he has not been dismissed immediately, due to the poor performances of rivals in the race for UEFA Champions League spots, a change in the Reds’ management is considered inevitable, and the name emerging as a strong candidate to take the helm is Xabi Alonso.

The current coach of Bayer Leverkusen, who is only 44 years old and led his team to a historic unbeaten German championship title, is not interested in taking on a new challenge midway through the season. However, Liverpool’s management is preparing for a deep restructuring, which also includes the departure of forward Mohamed Salah at the end of the season, even though the Egyptian still has a contract until 2027.

The crisis of results plaguing Liverpool is evident and alarming. With only four points earned in their last four Premier League matches, the Reds currently sit in fifth place, threatening their qualification for the Champions League. Aston Villa, in fourth place, is five points ahead, while Chelsea, in sixth, is just one point behind and has also struggled to achieve good results, with three points out of a possible twelve.

Arne Slot, who succeeded Jürgen Klopp, has sought to justify the team’s poor performance by downplaying the impact of the €500 million investment made last summer, which included signings like Florian Wirtz, Ekitiké, and Isak. The coach argues that the sale of players, such as Luis Díaz to Bayern for over €300 million, was a way to balance the financial books. However, the reality is that, despite having a squad full of stars, Slot has failed to forge a cohesive team.

In this critical scenario, the name of Xabi Alonso is starting to gain traction. Michael Edwards, Liverpool’s director, had previously attempted to lure the Spaniard in the spring of 2024, but Alonso chose to focus on his historic campaign with Leverkusen. However, discussions never ceased, and Alonso’s agent, Iñaki Ibáñez, confirmed that there are concrete proposals for the former world and European champion.

Alonso, who at the peak of his career won 18 titles, including a Champions League with Liverpool, sees his return to Anfield as a promising opportunity. However, the former player imposes clear conditions: he wants to have an influence on squad planning, a lesson learned during his time at Real Madrid, where his requests for reinforcements were ignored. Furthermore, Alonso dismisses any possibility of joining Liverpool at this stage of the season, recalling the pressure he faced when entering the Real Madrid team mid-season.

The return of Xabi Alonso is seen as a golden opportunity to revitalize a squad that has long been considered top-tier. At Leverkusen, his influence was crucial in the development of Florian Wirtz, transforming him into a world-class player. With Wirtz taking on a central role at Liverpool, the arrival of his former mentor could not only boost the player but also bring a new dynamic to a team that has long yearned for success. Expectations are high, and all eyes are on the next steps Liverpool will take in this turbulent season.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.