Liverpool next manager: Top journalist reveals WHY Xabi Alonso is turning down Reds

After the Xabi Alonso bombshell comes the analysis, and now we are finally starting to find out why the former Reds star is unlikely to return to Anfield as Liverpool manager this summer.

On Thursday night, widespread reports told us that Alonso is 'extremely unlikely' to replace Jurgen Klopp this summer when the German ends his massively successful spell on Merseyside.

Bayern Munich also appear to have given up hope of persuading Alonso to quit his current post at Bayer Leverkusen - with president Uli Hoeness admitting that recruiting the 42-year-old would be 'probably impossible'.

READ MORE: The top contenders to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool - ranked

Now it appears Alonso will remain in his post at Leverkusen - where he is set to claim the Bundesliga title this season, ending the long period of Bayern domination.

On Friday morning we got an insight into Alonso's thought process here, with respected Telegraph journalist Jason Burt joining Sky Sports News to give his take on the latest bombshell news.

'Debt' and 'honour' as Xabi Alonso stays put

He told the TV channel: "They've [Liverpool] had very little encouragement that Xabi Alonso would actually join them this summer, and have been preparing really to sort of strike him off their shortlist.

"Just to explain the situation, and I think it's quite an honourable thing from Xabi Alonso, I think he feels a debt to Bayer Leverkusen. They're the club that gave him his chance as a first-team coach - he'd been the 'B' team coach at Real Sociedad.

"He's obviously had great success at Leverkusen and I think he feels that it's not the right time now to go, with them obviously gonna be hopefully winning the Bundesliga title and qualifying for the Champions League."

Burt also looked ahead to what Alonso's next move might eventually be - and it concerns another of his former clubs.

"Also, what that does if he stays one more year, it also raises the possibility that Real Madrid could be his most likely destination."