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Xabi Alonso is reportedly set to stay at Bayer Leveruksen, blowing the race to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield wide open

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George Flood1 minute ago

Ruben Amorim is emerging as a potential new favourite in the race to succeed Jurgen Klopp as the next Liverpool manager.

Slot, Amorim, Lopetegui; Liverpool, Bayern – which managers are going where?	Slot, Amorim, Lopetegui; Liverpool, Barca, Bayern – which managers are going where?	'He's beat Pep': Jamie Carragher names a manager who may actually be better for Liverpool than Arne Slot

Reds legend Xabi Alonso had been considered the overwhelming frontrunner to return to Anfield and take the reins this summer ever since Klopp stunned the football world back in January by announcing that his nine-year spell in charge on Merseyside would be ending at the end of the current season.

However, it emerged late on Friday night that the Spaniard was now likely to stay at Bayer Leverkusen instead, having the club well on course to lift their maiden Bundesliga title with a 10-point gap to reigning champions Bayern Munich with only 10 games left to play this term.

Such a decision would deal a hefty blow to both former clubs Liverpool and Bayern, the latter of whom had also hoped to appoint him with current manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed to be leaving the Allianz Arena in the summer.

Standard Sport understands that Liverpool do not now believe that Alonso will be available for hire in the months ahead as he seeks to remain at the BayArena for another season until 2025, when a release clause in his contract will apparently become active.

While Alonso still leads the bookmakers’ odds to succeed Klopp for now, Ruben Amorim is seemingly surging forward in the race.

Fabrizio Romano reports that the Sporting CP boss, formerly of Braga, is the candidate most appreciated by Liverpool and will be among the alternative options to Alonso now discussed internally at Anfield.

Only slight behind Amorim in the betting is Roberto De Zerbi, the Italian who has been widely hailed for his superb work at Brighton since leaving Shakhtar Donetsk to succeed Graham Potter in September 2022.

Then comes Julian Nagelsmann, who was sacked by Bayern 12 months ago and was linked with the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham before in September being appointed as Hansi Flick’s replacement as Germany coach on a deal lasting only until the end of their home European Championship this summer.

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Nagelsmann has been linked with both Liverpool and Manchester United over recent weeks, while the German FA have confirmed that talks are underway about extending his contract beyond Euro 2024.

Klopp’s current assistant Pep Lijnders also still figures in the betting as he seeks to launch his own managerial career in the summer.

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou has already dismissed links with the Liverpool job, while a return to the Premier League for ex-Chelsea manager Tuchel seems unlikely at this stage after a tough stint at Bayern.

Next Liverpool manager odds

Xabi Alonso - 5/4

Ruben Amorim - 15/8

Roberto De Zerbi - 9/4

Julian Nagelsmann - 14/1

Ange Postecoglou - 14/1

Thomas Tuchel - 16/1

Pep Lijnders - 16/1

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).

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Ruben Amorim

Xabi Alonso

Roberto De Zerbi

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