Liverpool reportedly made “initial contact” with Como manager Cesc Fabregas over potentially replacing Arne Slot midway through the season.
On Saturday, the huge news emerged that Slot has been sacked as the Reds’ head coach, with the club’s owners releasing an official statement, part of which read:
“That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying. The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and – most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves – successful.
“As such, our appreciation for everything he has achieved could not be greater, particularly as it was underpinned by a work ethic, a diligence and a level of expertise which further underlined our view that he is a leader in his field.”
Now, journalist Chris Williams has taken to X to claim that Fabregas was spoken to back in December, prior to Slot’s removal and before Andoni Iraola became the red-hot favourite for the job:
“FSG began sounding out potential managerial replacements months before the final decision. Initial contact was made with Cesc Fabregas in December, followed by first conversations with Andoni Iraola’s team in February. Alonso was ruled out in March due to demands for greater control over football operations than Liverpool were prepared to grant.”
Would Cesc Fabregas have been a strong choice for Liverpool?
Fabregas enjoyed a wonderful playing career with the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona, and he is already impressing in management, guiding Como into Europe.
The 4-2-3-1-playing Spaniard could, therefore, have been an exciting appointment if Slot had been sacked earlier, being hailed by journalist Nicola Nenci:
“He was not just important. He was fundamental, decisive. He was put at the centre of the project. I don’t think there is any team in Italy that has a coach with this kind of power inside the club . . . they practically gave him the keys to the footballing project. Fabregas decides everything.”
But it looks as though Iraola will be the man to replace Slot, in what could be an equally eye-catching appointment, having played such entertaining football with Bournemouth.
There will be some concerns over whether the 43-year-old’s style of play will be possible with three games a week, but he is a big talent and he will hopefully be the next legendary manager at Anfield.