LIVERPOOL have reportedly added Roberto De Zerbi to their three-man managerial shortlist in case they miss out on Xabi Alonso.
Jurgen Klopp will leave Anfield at the end of the season.
And the search is well underway to find the German’s replacement.
Former Kop midfielder Alonso is the No1 choice as he impresses in charge of Bayer Leverkusen.
The Spaniard, 42, has led the German side to the top of the Bundesliga – seven points clear of Bayern Munich with a game in hand as they close in on a very first league title in their 120-year history.
But with Barcelona and possibly Bayern both looking for new managers, Liverpool know it won’t be a simple task landing Alonso.
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And that means the club have drafted up a list of possible alternatives.
According to The Guardian, De Zerbi is on it with informal checks already completed.
The Italian has done a remarkable job at Brighton since replacing Graham Potter early last season, leading the club into a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League, an FA Cup semi-final and the Europa League last 16 with an exciting brand of football not dissimilar to Klopp’s.
De Zerbi, 44, is fiercely ambitious and the former Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk boss has made no secret of his plans to manage at the very top level, competing for silverware.
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Speaking earlier this season, he told Sky Sports: “We feel we can write another part of Brighton’s history.
“Everyone feels this responsibility and we are working very hard to make our fans happy and our people working in the club. We will try and show our best.
“When I hear that big teams are interested in me it is an honour. I am proud, but my focus is on my work day-by-day.
“About the future, I will speak with the owner and with the club because I want to compete in the best way I can.
“I want to understand the plan, and then it is not a problem to work in a big, big team or another big team.
“I would like in my career to compete to win the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, La Liga, Champions League but there isn’t a time when you have to go and compete, or to wait some more time.”
But ahead of today’s trip to Fulham, he refused to be drawn on speculation linking him with Liverpool or Barcelona, with Pep Guardiola reportedly recommending him to the LaLiga giants.
Roberto De Zerbi’s Managerial Career
CLUB RECORDS
- Darfo Boario 19 Nov 2013 to 30 June 2014 – Played 22, Wins 5, Draws 5, Losses 12, Win % 22.73
- Foggia 1 Jul 2014 to 14 Aug 2016 – P 91, W 47, D 25, L 19, Win % 51.65
- Palermo 6 Sep 2016 to 30 Nov 2016 – P 13, W 1, D 3, L 9, Win % 7.69
- Benevento 23 Oct 2017 to 30 Jun 2018 – P 29, W 6, D 3, L 20, Win % 20.69
- Sassuolo 1 Jul 2018 to 24 May 2021 – P 120, W 43, D 36, L 41, Win % 35.83
- Shakhtar Donetsk 25 May 2021 to 11 Jul 2022 – P 30, W 20, D 5, L 5, Win % 66.67
- Brighton & Hove Albion 18 Sep 2022 to present – P 75, W 35, D 19, L 21, Win % 46.67
HONOURS
- Foggia Coppa Italia Lega Pro 2015–16
- Shakhtar Donetsk Ukrainian Super Cup 2021
De Zerbi – also linked with Manchester United alongside Graham Potter should Erik ten Hag get sacked – added: “I have only Brighton in my head. I would like to finish the season in the best way with our young players – to compete and win as many games as we can.
“Yes, I have a contract. I have decided nothing. My focus is on Brighton – 100 per cent.”
As well as De Zerbi, Sporting boss Ruben Amorim and the Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann are also on the three-man shortlist.
Amorim, 39, took over at Sporting in 2020 and led them to the league title in his first season in charge and battling Benfica at the top of the table this year.
Nagelsmann, meanwhile, was brutally sacked by Bayern Munich last March and signed a short-term deal to lead his country into Euro 2024 on home soil.
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However, the 36-year-old is expected to become available again in the summer and may well be ready for a new club project.
Liverpool are also in the process of appointing a new sporting director in a huge year for the club – with former chief Michael Edwards a primary target.
Xabi Alonso is perfect man for the job
By Dan King
XABI ALONSO ticks almost every box to succeed Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager, and if Bayer Leverkusen don’t let their lead at the top of the Bundesliga slip the case for him to do so will be irresistible.
The former Kop idol knows the club inside out after five seasons at Anfield and has made no secret of his enduring affection.
Alonso has already forged a reputation as an innovative coach playing an attractive, pressing style, usually in a fluid 3-4-2-1 formation.
He has taken Leverkusen from second bottom of the Bundesliga to seven-points clear at the top, putting them on course to be crowned German champions for the first time in their 120-year history.
It’s worth remembering that both Rafa Benitez and Klopp arrived at Anfield with proof they could dethrone clubs who dominated their leagues.
For Alonso to do the same, in only his second season as a top-flight manager, would mark him out as something special.
It is that lack of long-term experience that would still make appointing him to replace Klopp a gamble.
But otherwise, he looks like the perfect candidate as Liverpool are forced to plan a future without the man who made them champions of England, Europe and the world.
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Joshua Jones
