Xabi Alonso was said to have already accepted the offer to sign a 3-year deal and replace Arne Slot as the head coach of Liverpool, but this fact has recently been dismissed.
A defeat to Galatasaray that happened on March 10 has again raised a question over Slot’s sacking. At the same time, some experts doubt can’t see any signs that Liverpool would part ways with the existing head coach in the middle of the season.
Only a week ago, Spanish outlet Okdiario reported that Liverpool had already reached an oral agreement with Xabi Alonso over a three-year deal, potentially replacing Arne Slot if results in the Champions League fall short — a scenario that could also impact betting expectations among fans backing the club on platforms like GGBet.
However, this information has been rejected by journalist Fabrizio Romano, who underlined on YouTube that the decision to change the head coach in the upcoming season hadn’t been made yet. Romano repeated several times that nothing was agreed upon at the time of speaking, so it is impossible to say if there are any changes in the next season for sure. He also mentioned that Liverpool will run an internal review that will involve players, managers, and other club members to make insightful conclusions.
It is clear that Xabi Alonso is very appreciated in Liverpool for being a former player of this team and a world-recognized coach, so there are positive impressions about him without any doubts. However, the review will happen at the end of the season, so nothing has been decided yet.
The Future of Arne Slot: When To Wait For A Decision?
The Champions League play-offs began for Slot’s team not in the best way since they completed the first game with a 1-0 loss to Galatasaray. Therefore, Liverpool’s head has put Slot under increasing pressure caused by this and other issues. The lack of guaranteed progress in Europe and being drawn away to Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup have led to important decisions regarding the club’s goals for this and the next year.
However, the current focus is placed on remaining a member of the Champions League in the upcoming season and claiming at least one of the trophies available. The subject of this review has clear time measures, since both Slot and his staff will enter the final year of their contracts in July, so the decision on this topic should already be made this summer. The fact that Alonso is currently free and can take a new job after his dismissal from Real Madrid in January can impact the decision of the Liverpool board.
Prerequisites Of Slot’s Dismissal And Alonso’s Hire
The information about secret crisis talks with Xabi Alonso was confirmed by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, but he still insists that Liverpool won’t ask Arne Slot to leave in the near future. Despite their poor form in the Premier League, spectators could spot this season and being 5th in the table with nine losses already, Spot still holds his position. His attempts have also led to the danger that Liverpool can lose its place in the next season’s Champions League, so the pressure on Slot has only increased.
One Spanish report stated that Alonso has agreed to become Slot’s successor. Some people even say that Liverpool held secret talks with Alonso and his family, being disappointed by Slot’s performance greatly.
However, Ornstein from The Athletic doesn’t believe that Slot can lose his position in the close future and even in the next season. In his podcast, he mentioned several reasons for that:
- Liverpool is “steadfastly behind Arne Slot”.
- Slot’s contract will finish in 2027.
- Players want him to be their coach
- The board hopes that this man will get things right even after such serious failures.
They believe that he is the best candidate for a coaching role, and he will make the necessary changes for the club to improve its performance. Ornstein also thinks that the board doesn’t plan to remove the head coach, even if such reproaches come from fans. Therefore, it is important to wait and see how they will act in the next several months and whether Alonso will get a chance to become the head coach of this renowned club this or the next year.