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With Ole Werner's future at RB Leipzig described as "uncertain," Liverpool are reportedly facing competition from the German club for Xabi Alonso's signature, should the Reds decide to move on from current boss Arne Slot ahead of next season.
Fifteen years after leaving Liverpool as a player, Alonso rejected the opportunity to come back to Anfield in the summer of 2024, leading the club to turn to Slot as his replacement. The Dutchman went on to claim the Premier League title in his first campaign, but has since faced mounting scrutiny following a difficult 2025–26 season in which he has struggled to reshape the squad in his own vision.
Alonso's reputation doesn't seem to have suffered too greatly from his brief and turbulent stint at Real Madrid, where he was dismissed less than eight months into a three-year deal. The general consensus is that it was an unfortunate case of poor fit—he was criticised for attempting to impose a tactical structure on players who needed a different kind of management—rather than a reflection of his overall coaching credentials.
The Spaniard's availability on the market has coincided with the swirling speculation surrounding Slot's future at the club.
Xabi Alonso Linked With Bundesliga Return
In Germany, Sport Bild reports that the uncertainty surrounding Werner's position at RB Leipzig could steer the club toward Alonso, who is among a select group of names being considered as a potential replacement at the Red Bull outfit.
Champions League qualification is seen as pivotal for Werner's prospects, and Leipzig currently look well-placed to achieve it, sitting third in the table, five points ahead of fifth-place Hoffenheim with just four games remaining. However, a broader evaluation of the team's overall progress could also play a role in determining whether the 37-year-old is handed another season.
Should Leipzig pursue a new manager, Alonso is in the running alongside departing Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner and Al Ahli's Matthias Jaissle, who previously managed Red Bull Salzburg. A shared thread among all three candidates is their familiarity with the Champions League stage.
Such a move would more closely resemble Alonso's transformative tenure at Bayer Leverkusen—where he turned the club into the dominant force in German football—than his ill-fated spell at Real Madrid, which quickly fell apart.
Given that Leipzig have never claimed a Bundesliga title and the Red Bull football network is clearly driven by ambition—underscored by Jürgen Klopp's appointment at the top of the organisation—the attraction is plain to see. Leverkusen had similarly never won the German top flight before Alonso led them to an unbeaten Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double, with only a Europa League final defeat preventing a remarkable treble.
Will Liverpool Keep Arne Slot?
With so many variables at play, RB Leipzig's interest in Alonso would only become a concern for Liverpool if they find themselves needing to appoint a new manager in the first place.
Fans who have grown disillusioned with Slot and retain a deep affection for Alonso from his playing days at the club might contend that the chance to bring him in now—having missed the opportunity two years ago—is simply too compelling to pass up. That would, however, mean cutting Slot's tenure short by a year, given that the contract he signed to succeed Klopp in May 2024 runs through to the end of next season.
Yet the prevailing indications still suggest Slot will retain his position. Chelsea's unexpected downturn has made Liverpool's participation in the 2026–27 Champions League virtually assured, while time remains a significant ally for the Dutchman as he continues to assemble and integrate a refreshed squad.
Reports indicate that owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) continue to back Slot, who has publicly acknowledged feeling supported by the club's leadership. The situation might have looked very different had Liverpool suffered a similar collapse to Chelsea, but despite a below-par overall campaign, that has not been the case, and he appears to retain the confidence of FSG's decision-makers.