Thomas Tuchel to replace Jurgen Klopp? Liverpool told to go after Bayern coach as Xabi Alonso alternative despite 'unacceptable' position in the Bundesliga

Klopp's announcement of his impending departure from Liverpool at the end of the season has forced the Premier League giants to search for his successor. While Xabi Alonso has emerged as a fan favourite and frontrunner for the role, former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov believes Tuchel is well-equipped for the job if the Spaniard snubs Liverpool and ends up moving to Allianz Arena.

Speaking to Betfair, Berbatov said: "I still think the first-choice manager for Liverpool is Xabi Alonso, especially if he wins the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen. That would be a great success. If that happens, Alonso will likely take the next step to Liverpool. Some may say it's a bit too early, and maybe he'll have one more season with Leverkusen and he'll try to go for European glory with them to prove to everyone the Bundesliga win wasn't a fluke. However, I think Liverpool should continue to chase Alonso.

"If they can't get him then there are other coaches on the market like Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel would be the next contender for me to replace Klopp if they miss out on Alonso. Sometimes clubs will try to play it safe based on the manager's reputation or sometimes clubs take a chance and go for a not-so-big name, but at Liverpool, they have to go for success, and I think Tuchel or Alonso would be a good fit."

Although Bayern returned to winning ways after getting the better of RB Leipzig, thanks to a double from Harry Kane, the reigning champions are eight points behind leaders Leverkusen. Their inconsistent form in the German top flight has forced the club's hierarchy to announce Tuchel's impending departure at the end of the season - and Berbatov is not surprised by the decision.

"I am not surprised by the news that Thomas Tuchel is leaving Bayern at the end of the season," he said. "When you check the Bundesliga table, they are eight points behind Leverkusen. For the standards at Bayern Munich, that's unacceptable."

Despite rumours linking Tuchel to other clubs like Manchester United and West Ham, Berbatov believes Liverpool should consider him a viable option should they miss out on Alonso. With Tuchel's proven track record and familiarity with the demands of English football, thanks to his stint with Chelsea, Berbatov hopes that the 50-year-old tactician could provide a seamless transition post-Klopp era at Liverpool.