As the season ticks towards its end, talks over who’ll succeed Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager continues to dominate.
By now, some Reds supporters might have hoped to have things sown up. With the new boss ready to come in, Klopp’s slow departure could be enjoyed in all its glory.
But while still soaking in the legendary manager’s last weeks and months in the job, anxiety remains over who will follow Jurgen. At least Liverpool now have their footballing foundations in place, though. After his appointment yesterday new sporting director Richard Hughes is set to lead the charge to hire the new head coach.
With plenty of options seemingly under consideration, the outstanding candidate is obvious: Xabi Alonso. And with praise for Alonso in full flow, Liverpool’s Conor Bradley has added his name to the chorus.
Conor Bradley hails Xabi Alonso
Bradley has had a meteoric emergence at Liverpool over the course of the last few months.
So much so that for any new manager coming in, the Northern Irishman should clearly be looked at as a bona fide member of the senior squad.
And if it is Alonso coming in, then Bradley would seemingly be delighted. Asked about the 42-year-old by the Premier League’s official YouTube channel, the Liverpool right-back raved about Xabi Alonso the player.
“He was silly as well,” says Bradley. “I’ve seen some clips of him at Bayer Leverkusen hitting pings, he’s still got it. It’s mental. He’s unbelievable.”
What’s the latest on Xabi Alonso
With just two months of the European football season remaining, things are starting to need to get serious for Liverpool.
It isn’t as though they haven’t been trying. The Reds were said to have contacted Alonso about joining back in February.
However, on the verge of something remarkable with Bayer Leverkusen, the Spanish coach has wanted to remain undisturbed and undistracted. Liverpool are going to have to wait to get their man.
In the meantime, they are said to be primarily considering two other candidates – Sporting’s Ruben Amorim and Roberto De Zerbi of Brighton.
Clearly though, it’s Alonso who’s name stands out as the top man for the job.
To that end, the World Cup winning midfielder can surely only put a decision off for so long now. Journalist Fabrizio Romano has reported this week that Liverpool and Bayern Munich are set for a ‘crazy battle’ over Alonso during April.
If the Reds come out on the wrong side of that, then expect to see either Amorim or De Zerbi in the Anfield dugout next season.
As Bradley will attest though, that hopefully isn’t the way this one will pan out. After 15 years, it’s time to come home, Xabi.