Liverpool reportedly feel that they have been handed a second blow by Xabi Alonso, with the Spaniard’s decision to remain with Bayer Leverkusen set to prompt Florian Wirtz to remain at the club. The Reds had shortlisted the playmaker as a potential target for the summer transfer window.
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Liverpool are set to undergo several major changes this summer, both on and off the pitch. Jurgen Klopp’s decision to part ways with the Anfield outfit means that the Reds are shortlisting their options to replace the German.
Sporting’s Ruben Amorim is largely considered the favourite for the position, though Liverpool had previously highlighted Alonso as their top target following his impressive campaign with Leverkusen – which has seen them remain unbeaten in all competitions.
Bayern Munich were also keen to appoint the ex-midfielder, but the 42-year-old recently announced that he would like to repay the faith of Leverkusen by remaining at the BayerArena beyond this season. The decision is a significant blow for Liverpool, who felt he was the ideal successor for Klopp.
The damage caused by the decision is still being felt on Merseyside though, with HITC reporting that Liverpool feel that their summer transfer plans have also been scuppered by Alonso.
The Reds, as well as Manchester City, were expected to push to sign Germany international Wirtz this summer, but those plans have now been thrown into jeopardy as the 20-year-old is expected to insist on remaining with Leverkusen.
Numerous top talents, including Manchester United-linked Jeremie Frimpong and reported Arsenal target Victor Boniface, are said to have reconsidered their futures following Alonso’s public announcement and there is a growing feeling that they ‘could be persuaded’ by the manager to remain within his plans for the 2024/25 campaign.
With a rebuild plotted for the summer, newly-appointed Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes will need to show that he is able to pivot to new transfer targets at the end of the season now that Wirtz is likely to snub an approach.
The ex-Bournemouth chief does not start until the conclusion of the current campaign, by which time Liverpool will hope to know their next manager. Amorim is known for deploying a 3-4-3 formation which would therefore mean that signing a No. 10, like Wirtz, is unlikely to be a priority.
