23 April 2023 , 10:18
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Jurgen Klopp is a bonafide Liverpool legend and has already secured his place in Anfield folklore, but even the popular German has not been immune to speculation over what comes next once his sterling tenure is over.
It doesn't seem long ago that Reds legend Steven Gerrard was being touted as the man to step in when the time comes for Klopp to abdicate, but his disastrous stint at Aston Villa appears to have put paid to his aspirations of managing the club he cherishes above all others - for now.
Intriguingly, while Gerrard's stock is on the wane, his former Anfield teammate Xabi Alonso has started to garner a reputation as one of the most exciting managerial prospects in Europe following his impressive work in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen.
Since his appointment back in October, Alonso has worked wonders for Leverkusen, who booked their spot in the Europa League semi-finals in midweek. And the Spaniard has helped lift the relegation concerns that had plagued them in the Bundesliga, too, with only RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich amassing more than the 39 points Leverkusen have collected over the course of the past 20 league games whilst playing an attractive, attacking brand of football.
If Alonso's coaching career continues on its current trajectory, there is little doubt that he will be featured prominently in the running to replace Klopp when he departs Merseyside.
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But already, there's an issue for Liverpool: other clubs are acutely aware of Alonso and his burgeoning reputation. According to The Sun, West Ham are admirers of the Leverkusen boss and senior figures consider the 41-year-old as a top candidate to take over if they decide to dispense with the services of David Moyes at the end of the season.
The current Hammers boss is under pressure at the London Stadium following a calamitous Premier League campaign - even though he's managed to guide his side to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.
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Xabi Alonso is being monitored by West Ham after impressing at Bayer Leverkusen (Federico Gambarini/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)And although Alonso has only been in charge at Leverkusen for a little over six months, he did spend three years in charge of Real Sociedad's B team and has a wealth of Premier League experience from his playing days at Anfield, so West Ham wouldn't be deterred by his limited coaching resume.
Alonso's exemplary start to life in the dugout should come as little surprise; the former playmaker played under some of Europe's best coaches including Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti before calling time on his illustrious career back in 2017.
Despite Liverpool's struggles this season, Klopp remains a hugely popular figure at Anfield. However, he himself suggested that he would quit his role if campaigns like this became a regular occurrence.
When he was asked earlier this month if he'd ever experienced a season like this before, Klopp retorted: "No, thank God. I wouldn't be manager of Liverpool if I had a couple of these seasons. We have to get through it. That's how life is. You have to fight to change your fortunes."