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Credit: Get French Football News

As Jurgen Klopp announced his surprise departure from Liverpool at the end of the current campaign earlier in the season, the Reds have been linked with a plethora of managers to replace him.

Since the announcement, Xabi Alonso has been the front runner in both the eyes of pundits and fans alike.

The Spaniard has done a stellar job with Bayer Leverkusen this term and has managed to go unbeaten in the Bundesliga thus far.

Leverkusen are on 70 points whilst second-placed Bayern Munich are on 60 respectively.

Yesterday, however, Paul Joyce broke the news that the Spaniard would be staying put with the German club for at least the next season.

This has been all but confirmed today as Alonso has come out publicly and said the following:

“I’m not going to comment about Liverpool or Bayern (Munich).

These are big clubs and I’ve strong links with them but I’m in the place where I want to be.

“It’s not time to decide my future now, I want to develop at Bayer Leverkusen.” “Last week I had a meeting when I informed [Leverkusen’s directors] of my decision to continue being coach of Bayer Leverkusen.

“At the moment this is the right place for me to develop.”

Although this is a bitter pill to swallow for Liverpool fans, his decision makes sense as, this is his first full season in charge on a senior club.

And, although the performances he has managed to get out of Leverkusen have been astonishing, it feels as if this is the best decision for Alonso at this moment in time.

This now means that FSG and Liverpool will have to set their sights elsewhere for the next person to take the reins at Anfield.

Although many names have been thrown in the hat such as Roberto De Zerbi, Julian Naglesmann and Ruben Amorim there is another candidate which has perked the Reds’ interests.

That manager being RC Lens’ Franck Haise

The Ligue 1 manager has been the coach of the club since 2020 when, as their caretaker manager, he guided the club to promotion to France’s top tier.

This is according to The Athletic who claim that Haise has ‘profiled well‘ in regard to the Reds’ managerial search.

Although his heroics with Lens haven’t gone unnoticed, this recent link to Liverpool would be a major step up for the French manager.

However, with the boots of Jurgen Klopp to fill, it’s not surprising that Liverpool are looking at lesser-heard of managers to take over the role.

This would allow them to create their own vision and tactical style and not have as much pressure placed upon them in their appointment.

Because, if a more well-known manager took the reins, they would have their legacy to live up to and would be under much more media scrutiny than that of Haise would likely be.

Later in the report, The Atheltic state that he’s ‘less likely‘ to make the final shortlist.