Reliable reports from Germany: Liverpool intend to hire Xabi Alonso to replace Arne Slot

Last Updated on 25 March 2026

Liverpool’s defense of their 2024/25 Premier League title did not go as planned, with the Merseyside club 21 points off leaders Arsenal with seven games left.

The entirety of the 2025/26 season has been nightmarish for Liverpool and Arne Slot. While they remain alive in the FA Cup, Champions League, and fight for a top 5 Premier League finish, fans and the hierarchy are clearly not happy with the progress.

As a result, it’s hardly a surprise to see reports linking Liverpool with a familiar name, Xabi Alonso.

Xabi Alonso ‘ready’ to accept Liverpool offer as BILD reports intense pursuit of Spaniard

The pressure on Arne Slot has been building for weeks and after a tenth league defeat, the mood around Liverpool has shifted from concern to inevitability. What once felt like a transitional dip is now being viewed internally as a season that has spiralled beyond recovery.

According to the reliable BILD journalist Axel Hesse, Liverpool are “intensely” pursuing a move for Xabi Alonso. Hesse broke the news of Florian Wirtz’s move to Anfield in the summer. And now, he’s reporting that Xabi is ready to return to Anfield if a formal offer is tabled.

The report positions Alonso as the leading candidate to take over this summer. There’s growing belief that Liverpool are laying the groundwork for a change in the dugout. While no final decision has officially been made on Slot, the direction of travel feels increasingly clear.

Xabi Alonso’s demands could force Liverpool into a major structural overhaul

Xabi Alonso is not expected to walk into the current “head coach” setup without significant changes. After previous frustrations over limited control, he is now believed to be pushing for a far greater say in squad planning.

That’s something that directly challenges Liverpool’s existing structure. As it stands, transfer strategy sits with sporting director Richard Hughes, with the head coach operating within that framework.

However, there is growing uncertainty over whether Hughes. And, whether he will even remain in position by the summer, with reports linking him to opportunities elsewhere. At the same time, questions are beginning to surface around Liverpool’s chief executive, Michael Edwards.

He played a key role in Liverpool’s most successful modern era. But, ever since his return to Anfield, Edwards is believed to be frustrated after Fenway Sports Group, since they opted against expanding into a multi-club model.

All of which leaves Liverpool at a crossroads. Appointing Alonso wouldn’t just mean replacing Slot, it could require a complete rethink of how the club is run. And, maybe, that return is what a club like Liverpool needs after Jurgen Klopp made it work to a high degree.