Liverpool expect Alonso to stay at Leverkusen and look elsewhere for Klopp replacement

Having sent his Bayer Leverkusen side flying high this season, leading the Bundesliga rankings with a 10-point advantage over defending champions Bayern Munich, Xabi Alonso has been heavily linked with several clubs that will be going through managerial changes this summer.

Among those are Liverpool and Bayern, clubs from his illustrious playing career, as well as Barcelona.

However, according to Paul Joyce of The Times, Liverpool have turned their attention elsewhere and are currently contemplating alternative targets, such as Brighton and Hove Albion’s Roberto De Zerbi and Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim. The reason for that is simple – the Merseysiders now expect their former midfielder to stay at Leverkusen at least for another season.

During his eight-year spell at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp has raised the bar significantly in terms of expectations, and whoever takes his seat ahead of next season will be aware of the magnitude of the task ahead.