Liverpool have made contact with Xabi Alonso’s agent over the possibility of replacing Arne Slot at the end of the season, according to Spanish reports.
Xabi Alonso to Liverpool? Latest on Spanish Reports
Initial contact: Liverpool have reportedly reached out to Xabi Alonso’s agent to discuss a potential move to Anfield for the 2026/27 season.
Slot assessment: While FSG have informed Arne Slot he will remain in charge for the rest of the current campaign, his long-term future is under scrutiny.
“Positive” response: Although Alonso is taking his time before deciding his next move, the initial feedback to the Reds’ hierarchy is said to be encouraging.
Alonso is now unemployed after leaving Real Madrid earlier this month and his availability is looming over Slot’s position at Liverpool.
While it has been maintained that Fenway Sports Group are not planning to sack their head coach mid-season there is a growing concern over Slot’s performance.
And with Liverpool losing 3-2 to Bournemouth on Saturday evening to end an underwhelming 13-game unbeaten run, the timing of a new report from AS could be telling.
AS editorial director Jose Felix Diaz claims that Liverpool are now in contact with Alonso’s agent Inaki Ibanez to enquire over a potential move to Anfield in the summer.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, October 2, 2024: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot (L) embraces Bayer Leverkusen's head coach Xabi Alonso before the UEFA Champions League game between Liverpool FC and Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While Alonso is said to be “waiting patiently before making any decisions,” the response to those on Merseyside was “positive.”
It remains to be seen if that will be the route FSG go down, but Diaz further claims that Slot has already been informed he will stay in the job for the rest of the season.
This is not the first time AS have pushed the possibility of Alonso taking over at Liverpool but Diaz’s credentials make this latest story particularly interesting.
Why Arne Slot’s position at Liverpool is in doubt
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot before the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC at the Stade Vélodrome. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While Liverpool have effectively declared their title defence over, Slot can still achieve success this season in both the Champions League and FA Cup.
FSG will also prioritise a top-four finish in the Premier League, as maintaining a place in the Champions League is of the upmost importance to the club in terms of both performance and revenue.
Even in exiting the tournament at the last-16 stage last season, Liverpool were reported to have earned around €100 million (£86.7m in today’s money) for their participation.
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen beat Freiburg to re-establish their 10-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga (Tom Weller/AP)
But given the scale of their spending over the summer and what supporters and those in the boardroom are witnessing on the pitch week in, week out, Slot should and will be assessed beyond that.
Alonso turned down an approach from Liverpool in 2024 as they club sought a replacement for Jurgen Klopp, opting to stay at Bayer Leverkusen after winning the Bundesliga in an unbeaten campaign.
He then took over at Real Madrid in the summer just gone, but managed just 28 games before his dismissal, despite winning 20 of those.