Xabi Alonso ‘set to announce his decision to STAY at Bayern Leverkusen today’… with Liverpool left in the lurch as they continue to look  for Jurgen Klopp’s successor

Xabi Alonso is set to announce his decision to stay at Bayern Leverkusen during their press conference later today, according to reports. 

The 42-year-old will address the public at 2pm ahead of his side’s Bundesliga clash with Hoffenheim on Saturday afternoon. 

According to BILD, Alonso will announce his decision to stay with the German club – turning down Liverpool and Bayern Munich, who were both interested.  

The news will come as a blow to Liverpool given the former Reds midfielder had been strongly linked with with replacing Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. 

Alonso’s decision to stay at Leverkusen leaves Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim as the leading candidate to take over at Liverpool. 

Jurgen Klopp will leave Liverpool in the summer after almost nine years at the helm

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Amorim, 39, is expected to be given an interview with the Premier League giants after he scored well on Liverpool’s data tests. 

Bayern Munich had also registered an recruiting Alonso, perhaps a tactic to unsettle Leverkusen’s title tilt this season. 

However, Bayern Munich’s club president Uli Hoeness said it would be ‘probably impossible’ to bring the Spaniard to Munich this year. 

Liverpool’s recruitment drive, led by new sporting director Richard Hughes and CEO of football Michael Edwards, now focuses on Amorim and De Zerbi, whose Brighton side visit Anfield on Sunday. 

Alonso, who was seen as Liverpool’s dream target, has overseen a revolution at Bayer Leverkusen since joining in October 2022. 

When he signed up, they were in the relegation zone but he steered them into the top six.

This campaign, they are 10 points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga, unbeaten all season, and into the last eight of the Europa League for a second year running. 

It has been a historic season, with Leverkusen on course to lift their first Bundesliga title barring an almighty breakdown, and they have only conceded 18 goals in the process. 

Alonso was Liverpool’s primary target to replace Klopp, but they are now turning their attention to Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim (pictured above)

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi sits behind leading candidate Amorim for the job 

After cutting his teeth for three seasons with Real Sociedad B, he has re-energised the Rhine club and won 50 of his 75 games in charge, only losing 10. 

Bayern are facing the prospect of their first season without winning a trophy since 2011-12 – following 11 consecutive title wins – and have thus deemed Tuchel surplus to requirements. 

Liverpool’s attention now turns to Amorim and De Zerbi at the top of their shortlist, both candidates boasting considerable credentials.

Amorim has already led Sporting CP to one Portuguese league title and they are top of the table again this time around.

De Zerbi guided Brighton to sixth in the Premier League last season and got them to the last 16 of the Europa League in their maiden continental venture. The Seagulls will visit Anfield on Sunday.

More to follow…