Who will win ‘three-horse race’ for Xabi Alonso? Liverpool warned potential Jurgen Klopp successor is wanted by Real Madrid and Bayern Munich

The Reds have no managerial vacancy to fill at Anfield, with Premier League and Champions League-winning coach Klopp tied to a contract through to 2026. The German tactician has, however, suggested that he will be bidding farewell to Merseyside when his current deal comes to a close.

Following in Klopp’s illustrious footsteps will be no easy task and debate has already begun regarding potential candidates to step into that void. Former Reds star Alonso has impressed during spells in charge of Real Sociedad B and Bayer Leverkusen, but the World Cup-winning former Spain international is becoming a man in demand. Ex-Liverpool team-mate Hamman - speaking to BoyleSports, who offer the latest Premier League odds – has said: “Xabi is doing fantastically well and it depends on how long Klopp stays at Liverpool. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are two competitors to Xabi's services, too. It looks like Alonso will leave in the summer, but Real Madrid will need a new coach with Ancelotti going to Brazil. It's a matter of timing, but Xabi is highly rated at all three of those clubs, it could be a three-horse race. Having said that, Liverpool may not even need a manager in the summer, and perhaps they need to wait a bit longer.”

Hamann, who spent time in Liverpool’s midfield engine room alongside Alonso, added on whether he saw the classy Spaniard becoming a top coach: “Xabi was a very good reader of the game, but if I look back at the players I played with, the ones I thought would become managers never did and vice-versa! You could always tell with Xabi he was a student of the game, and he had to be as he was never the quickest. I'm not surprised he's doing so well.”

Alonso took the reins at Leverkusen in October 2022 and led them to the semi-finals of the Europa League during his debut campaign at the helm. His contract with the Bundesliga outfit is also due to run until 2026 – mirroring Klopp’s on Merseyside – but he has plenty of admirers in Madrid and Munich having also represented Real and Bayern with distinction during his playing days.