Xabi Alonso: 'Clear information' will mean heartbreak for Liverpool

Journalist Florian Plettenberg’s ‘clear information’ on Xabi Alonso could mean heartbreak for Liverpool this summer. The Spaniard is the Reds' no.1 target to replace Jurgen Klopp.

It's no secret that Liverpool want Xabi Alonso to replace Jurgen Klopp. Klopp will step down as manager after this season, bringing about the biggest change at the club for close to a decade.

Part of the change has already happened. Michael Edwards is back to oversee football at Liverpool, with Richard Hughes arriving as sporting director on June 1st.

But the next manager isn't confirmed - but Alonso tops the shortlist. The problem is that he also tops the shortlist elsewhere.

Bayern Munich will also change manager this summer as Thomas Tuchel leaves with the end of the campaign. They want Alonso as their next boss - the man who will almost certainly condemn them to a title-less season for the first time since 2012.

And according to Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg, it's the Bavarians who will get their way here.

"Bayern Munich are confident to sign him, they are pushing for him," said Plettenberg. "But there are no negotiations - talks have taken place but no negotiations.

"It's difficult to get him but Bayern are optimistic. If Uli Hoeness, the president, the 'super boss' of the club, if he confirms in public that Xabi Alonso is a name they are targeting, that means everything.

"And for sure, clubs like Liverpool want to sign but again, clear information: if he would leave Leverkusen this summer, he would join Bayern Munich and not Liverpool."

Xabi Alonso and his future

We'd be surprised if it's this clear-cut. In fact, we'd be surprised if a manager chose Bayern over Liverpool full-stop right now.

Bayern aren't exactly stable right now, changing managers regularly and have a squad that needs quite a bit of work. We went over the reasons why we believe Liverpool are a brighter prospect than Bayern and the reasons still hold true.

So we won't get too worried about this report just yet. There's still a way to run on this and Liverpool have only just got themselves into a position where they can focus on the managerial hire.

Expect the push for Alonso to really go into overdrive now that Edwards and Hughes are on board.