Arsenal have been told that hiring Xabi Alonso could become an ‘option’ if the Spaniard fails to return to Liverpool or Real Madrid. Alonso, who has enjoyed success with Bayer Leverkusen, has previously revealed his desire to manage one of his former clubs.
Alonso seems set to remain at Leverkusen for another year. Arne Slot is on course to win the Premier League in his first season at Liverpool, so it is unlikely that the Reds job will become available any time soon. Meanwhile, Real Madrid seem unlikely to part company with Carlo Ancelotti until at least the summer. Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann believes Alonso staying at Leverkusen for another year could present Arsenal as a possible destination further down the line.
Speaking to CardPlayer, Hamann said: “There is a decision coming for Xabi Alonso and it looks like he wants to stay at Bayer Leverkusen for another year, which I didn’t think was possible just a few months ago.
“He has said in the past that he would like to manage one of his former clubs and there is also a heavy link to Bayern Munich as well as Liverpool and Real Madrid, it’s all down to timing.
“I think he felt Jurgen Klopp’s footsteps were too big to fill at Liverpool last summer. Arne Slot is doing well now and Carlo Ancelotti can choose when he leaves Real Madrid.
“Can I see him at Arsenal? There might be a time when he wants to leave where it will become an option. There isn’t much talk about Mikel Arteta at the moment but I think there is potential there, maybe after we see him at Liverpool or Real Madrid.”
Arsenal have already agreed to sign Alonso in the past. Ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has revealed that the midfielder was close to joining Arsenal before his inclusion in a Champions League tie made a deal impossible.
“When we went for Gareth Barry, it was because he could play in three different positions and then we needed to sell [to sign Barry]. Xabi had an agreement – he was talking with one club and had an agreement,” Benitez told the Stick To Football podcast.
“The year after, we played Standard de Liege for a Champions League qualifier and we had Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva in the Olympic Games, Steven Gerrard had a lower back problem, so we had to play [Damien] Plessis and Xabi. Xabi had an agreement with Arsenal and didn’t want to get cup-tied.
“I told Jamie Carragher and Gerrard before the game that he had an agreement and doesn’t want to play, but he must because it is the most important game to qualify for the Champions League.
“Then when you [Carragher] were going out for the warm-ups, you said, ‘Poor Xabi.’ Not poor Xabi, he is playing for our club at this time. During the season he was our best player and didn’t go to Arsenal because he had to play [for us].”