Liverpool FC News Recap: Xabi Alonso latest twist, sporting director linked & new injury

Reports that Bayern Munich have opened talks with Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso have been disputed, as Liverpool receive another boost in the race to secure the highly rated coach.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sky Germany reported that Bayern had opened talks with the 42-year-old, while it was also claimed that the former midfield playmaker would prefer a move to Munich, as Liverpool represented too much of a risk after the success of Jurgen Klopp.

Those suggestions contradicted previous stories regarding Alonso's preferences, while Sky's report has been dismissed by German outlet BILD.

Their piece claims that "in Leverkusen people are very irritated by the reporting", while adding that "nothing is known about any discussions between Alonso and Bayern."

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Michael Edwards linked sporting director back in the frame

Liverpool and Roma are both eyeing Bournemouth's Richard Hughes as their next sporting director, according to a report.

Hughes, 44, has attracted admiring glances in recruitment circles for the manner in which he has assembled Bournemouth’s current crop of players.

The Glasgow-born former midfielder turned technical director was responsible for the signings of players like Dominic Solanke and Lloyd Kelly while he previously oversaw the recruitment of Tyrone Mings, Callum Wilson and Nathan Ake.

The former Arsenal trainee, who is a close associate of former Reds director Michael Edwards, has been linked with teams further up the food chain with Liverpool and Roma now reported to be keen.

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Young star suffers injury setback

Liverpool’s injury curse has struck again with left back Calum Scanlon suffering a “minor setback”. 

The 19-year-old defender was pictured with his foot in a protective boot earlier on Tuesday and hopes to be back “stronger than ever”. No details have yet been shared about the scale of Scanlon’s injury. 

Scanlon, 19, was plucked from Birmingham City back in 2020 for a fee of around £500,000. The left back has provided cover this season during the injuries to both Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas.

The England youth international has even tasted first-team minutes, playing twice in the Europa League against Toulouse and Union SG in the group stages. 

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Jamie Carragher names potential Liverpool advantage in title race

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has outlined one factor that could give his former side an advantage over rivals Manchester City and Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

Outlining the strengths of each side on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, Carragher highlighted that while Arsenal may have the strongest defence and City the best overall squad, Liverpool's use of substitutes to win games late on, as they did at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, could prove crucial.

Carragher said: "Since the five-sub rule came in, no-one has utilised it better than Jurgen Klopp…"

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Serie A star linked... again

Liverpool and Manchester City have been named as potential mystery suitors for Inter star Nicolo Barella by reports in Italy.

Barella, 27, is contracted to the San Siro giants until 2026 and Inter hope to tie down their star man for even longer by offering a significant salary raise.

However, complicating the picture is reported interest from the Premier League.

Il Secolo XIX is now claiming that there is a 'monstrous' €80m (£68.5m) offer on the horizon from the Premier League with Liverpool and City both mooted as the bidders.

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