Xabi Alonso breaks silence on Liverpool links after Jurgen Klopp announcement
Bayer Leverkusen/TwitterXabi Alonso insists his focus remains on managing Bayer Leverkusen after being heavily linked with the Liverpool job on Friday morning.
Alonso, who spent five seasons at Liverpool as a player, has been installed as the early favourite to become the new Reds boss at the end of the season.
It follows Klopp announcing his shock decision on Friday that he is leaving his role as Liverpool manager at the end of the current campaign and said he ‘doesn’t have the energy’ to meet the standards he has set at Anfield beyond this term.
Xabi Alonso addresses Liverpool speculation
Attention is already turning towards who will succeed Klopp on Merseyside and Alonso has addressed whether he would be interested in the role on Friday.
“Speculation is normal, my focus is here on Bayer Leverkusen,” he said in a press conference. “I am very happy at Leverkusen with my players at the moment. Big surprise in Liverpool, of course – for what Jürgen did in Liverpool I have great respect and admiration”.
Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has dismissed claims Alonso has an affordable release clause if Alonso’s former clubs Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich wanted to appoint him as their new manager.
But the Leverkusen chief has hinted they wouldn’t stand in his way if Alonso wanted to leave the BayArena.
Leverkusen face Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Saturday as they look to maintain their four point lead at the top of the table.
