Liverpool to approach former player in hunt for Klopp replacement

Liverpool booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round with victory over Norwich City on Sunday afternoon. 

In their first match since Jurgen Klopp announced he is to depart the club at the end of the season, the Reds cruised to a 5-2 win over the Canaries at Anfield.

Goals from Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Virgil van Dijk, and Ryan Gravenberch sealed a convincing win, setting up a fifth round tie against either Watford or Southampton, who drew 1-1 and now face a replay.

With Klopp set to depart in the summer, the German will be desperate to win at least one trophy in his final season on Merseyside, and the Reds have an excellent chance of doing so as they currently remain in the running for four competitions.

While there are several months remaining before Klopp leaves, it appears that those in charge of Liverpool are already looking to find his successor.

According to Football Insider, the Merseyside outfit are preparing to approach Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso as Klopp’s potential successor.

Alonso has emerged as a leading candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager

The Spaniard, who has impressed since taking charge of the German side in 2022, spent five years with Liverpool as a player.

The former midfielder joined the Reds from Real Sociedad in 2004 and made more than 200 appearances for the club across all competitions before returning to his native Spain to join Real Madrid in 2009.

Alonso’s Leverkusen have been in scintillating form so far this term and currently sit top of the Bundesliga, two points clear of reigning champions Bayern Munich.

His side remain unbeaten in the league after 19 games, and it looks increasingly possible that the ex-Spain midfielder could guide them to the German top flight title at the end of the season.

The report claims that Alonso, 42, is Liverpool’s ‘number one target’ to replace Klopp, who announced his departure earlier this week.

It is also claimed that Alonso has a clause in his contract with Leverkusen that would allow him to leave Germany and take the hot seat at Anfield.