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Liverpool have been dealt a huge blow in their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso.

The Reds have been on the lookout for a new manager for a few months now after Jurgen Klopp announced in January that he will be walking away at the end of the season.

Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes now have to find someone else to become the next Liverpool boss, and the latter is apparently a big fan of a rival Premier League manager.

Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Liverpool announced earlier this month that Richard Hughes has been appointed as the club’s new sporting director.

The 44-year-old, along with Michael Edwards, has been tasked with the appointment of a new manager to replace Jurgen Klopp this summer.

He is among the most exciting young managers around, and it is no surprise that Liverpool have been linked with him.

After the Alonso news emerged last night, Reddy said on X: “Liverpool more confident and at ease with Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes in position to source the new manager.

“Hughes is a Roberto De Zerbi fan – for good reason.”

Roberto De Zerbi is a very good manager, and the job he has done at Brighton is really impressive.