Manchester City consider Liverpool target Xabi Alonso as their next manager

Manchester City now have a Liverpool target on their own manager shortlist as they consider life after Pep Guardiola.

Diario AS reports that Manchester City are one of several clubs looking at Xabi Alonso. The Bayer Leverkusen boss was a target for Liverpool this year, of course, before ultimately deciding to remain with his club.

Alonso has since clinched the Bundesliga title - Leverkusen's first - which has only enhanced his reputation further. There will almost certainly be a push for his signature next year as a result, with clubs already lining up.

Real Madrid are supposedly on that list, while Liverpool and Bayern Munich could be back in for him if things don't work out over the next 12 months. The most interesting name on the list, though, is Man City.

Pep Guardiola has one year to run on his contract, with no guarantee as of yet that he'll sign a new one. City need to have eyes on potential replacements, then, and there isn't really a better one around than Alonso.

The Spaniard is in more demand than just about any manager in recent history, then. It's quite the pick of clubs.

Xabi Alonso's future

City are undoubtedly the odd one out here as they're not a former club of Alonso's. It's always been said that his career plan was to manage at least one of his former sides - he probably didn't expect to have all three knocking on his door at once, however.

But City undoubtedly have pulling power. Whether it's enough to trump what the others have depends on Alonso himself, of course.

It would be quite the twist of fate for Liverpool, though. They tried to hire Alonso this year only to be knocked back. Now there's a slim chance, but still a chance, that he ends up at a key rival.