Chelsea were ready to battle it out with Liverpool for the services of Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso before the move collapsed.
According to a report by FussballTransfers, Liverpool were not the only English club keen on appointing Xabi Alonso as their new boss. Chelsea were ready to enter the race and make a move for the 42-year-old Bayer Leverkusen manager but they have received a blow as the has made a decision regarding his future.
Alonso has made quite a name for himself as a manager thanks to his outstanding work at Leverkusen. His team is dominating the Bundesliga. They have been unbeaten in all competitions and are leading the race for the league title.
The German club are playing an attractive and attacking brand of football. Alonso’s managerial style and his team’s impressive performances have put him on the radar of multiple top clubs who are on the lookout for a new boss.
Liverpool are one of the clubs that were linked with the 42-year-old. Jurgen Klopp will leave the Reds at the end of the season and the Merseyside club have been on the lookout for the ideal replacement. Alonso had done wonders for them as a player and they were looking to bring him back to the club.
He was a priority target for them but his decision to continue at Leverkusen has come as a blow to them. As per the report, Chelsea were also interested in having the former Spanish international on their bench. The Blues brought in Mauricio Pochettino at the start of the 2023/24 season with hopes of turning things around.
Unfortunately, nothing much has changed at the London club. They are struggling to get things going and the future of the former Tottenham Hotspur boss is not certain. They could end up parting ways with him after the season is over.
As a result, they were looking at Alonso as a potential replacement and were ready to make a move for him. But, a possible transfer has now collapsed because Alonso has decided to continue at the German club. The Merseyside club and the Blues will now have to look at options elsewhere with the former Real Madrid midfielder committing his future to Leverkusen.