Liverpool Manager Search - Xabi Alonso Tipped to Stay at Leverkusen

Hoenees told Ran Sport: "Clubs like Liverpool, Real Madrid, Leverkusen and FC Bayern are working on it.

"He's proven that he can be a coach for the big time. There are hardly any coaches who come into question who are currently free, who don't have a job or who are on sabbatical.

"It's not so easy to tell them that FC Bayern is the measure of all things."

The Bayern legend Uli Hoenees has changed his tune in recent days, saying he expects Xabi Alonso to remain at Leverkusen. 

He told German broadcaster ARD: "I feel that it will be very difficult to sign Xabi Alonso, not to say probably impossible.

"I can certainly imagine him staying at Bayer Leverkusen to continue his job. He would not want to leave them behind. Let's say if he had two or three more years of success, it would probably be easier to bring him out of there."

Xabi Alonso's contract at Bayer Leverkusen runs until 2026.

If these reports are true, Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes have a tough task finding a replacement for Jurgen Klopp. Roberto De Zerbi has been mentioned and Brighton’s manager travels to Anfield with his team on Sunday. 

Bayern are also considering the Italian coach to replace Thomas Tuchel. Bayern's sporting director told Sky Germany: "The search for a coach is ongoing. But I won't go into individual names. It's not my style to discuss these topics in public.

"It's clear that we need a coach from the summer onwards and it's also clear we're now having very intense discussions and getting to know a lot of exciting people.

"It cannot be brushed off the table that things could become a little more difficult for Bayern if he speaks neither German nor English."

With options running out, Liverpool may need to look further afield. They may consider former captain Steven Gerrard, who is currently manager of Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia. 

Other outside bets could be former Brighton and Chelsea coach, Graham Potter and current Liverpool assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders. The latter has also been linked with the head coach role at Ajax Amsterdam.