While reports suggest Xabi Alonso is ‘waiting’ for a potential opening at Liverpool, those claims have been dismissed elsewhere as ‘exaggerated’.
As the season draws to an end, Arne Slot‘s future has become increasingly under focus, especially for supporters who have vocalised their dissatisfaction.
Alonso has been consistently linked with a return to Merseyside since his exit from Real Madrid. However David Ornstein, The I Paper and The Guardian all reiterate Slot is expected to stay in charge.
Contrasting claims have emerged when it comes to the Spaniard’s intentions, however. The I Paper states “sources close to Alonso say the former Reds midfielder wants to wait and see” if Slot’s situation changes.
Conversely, the Guardian‘s Jacob Steinberg has described those suggestions as exaggerated,” adding the real unknown is “whether Alonso decides to move to England now or opts to take a break.”
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)
The I Paper‘s Pete Hall also shares a slightly different view on that matter, with the report stating: “Alonso is keen to return to management so will not take too much longer to deliberate.”
The 44-year-old is the focus of managerless Chelsea, and Ornstein described Alonso as being “open to the possibility” of moving to Stamford Bridge after they sacked Liam Rosenior.
Further adding to the intrigue, Hall referred to one source as saying, he would have ‘taken the Chelsea job by now if Liverpool was not still in his thinking’.
Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva are among those reportedly on Chelsea‘s shortlist, as they aim to appoint a new manager ahead of the World Cup.
With several Premier League clubs looking to appoint new managers this summer, Liverpool cannot sit on their hands if they have any inkling that it could play out the same way as it did for Brendan Rodgers.