Liverpool have played another hand in their deck as they continue to chase after Xabi Alonso, who they want to replace the departing Jürgen Klopp.
Alonso is currently making a big splash in Germany with Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The former Liverpool midfielder is leading the German Bundesliga with 10 points after 25 games with nine games to go. If he maintains this lead, he will make history in the league.
Leverkusen have never won the Bundesliga in their history and they are close to doing so for the first time in Bayern Munich’s most dominant era. He is overseeing an unbeaten run in the league, which is something that not even Bayern has been able to manage despite winning the German Bundesliga a record 32 times.
The Spaniard, who is only in his second full season since becoming a senior team manager, is already considered one of the world’s best managers for this effort. He is being courted by Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Liverpool, who are ready to go to war for his signature. Leverkusen are also trying to convince him to remain at the club for one more season to consolidate the success he has brought their way.
While Alonso focuses on claiming the German club’s first league title in their history, his agent is having meetings. The latest is with Liverpool’s incoming football CEO, Michael Edwards.
Edwards served as sporting director at Anfield in the past and is returning in a higher capacity following the shakeup that is happening at the club thanks to the imminent departure of Jürgen Klopp. Edwards is yet to resume his new role but has already contacted Alonso’s agent through a contact of his, Richard Hughes.
Hughes is the current sporting director of AFC Bournemouth and will be leaving the role at the end of the season. Hughes is the one responsible for bringing in Andoni Iraola, who is also a client of Alonso’s agent, Iñaki Ibanez. Hughes is close to becoming Liverpool’s new sporting director and has linked Edwards with Ibanez to discuss the modalities of bringing in Alonso ahead of next season.
This is the biggest move the club has made in their pursuit of Alonso. Reports have it that they are not pushing forward with their intentions to snap up Alonso with Leverkusen because they have empathy for their historic run. They do not want to be accused of distracting the club or the manager from achieving their first-ever German Bundesliga title.
However, Edwards, who has thanked the Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owners, for giving him the new role, intends to keep up the pressure through constant communication with Ibanez as they prepare to fight off Real Madrid and Bayern Munich for Alonso.
