darucs112

I've read the Minteh article on the bbc website and there is no mention of Endrick

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7306924/2026/05/28/liverpool-season-slot-transfers-injuries/ Pearce doesn't come across convincing that Slot stays

This felt like the moment Liverpool fans’ patience truly snapped with Arne Slot By James Pearce May 10, 2026Updated 8:36 am GMT+1 The parallels are undeniable. Rewind to May 2015 and Liverpool were limping towards the finish line. An under-pressure manager was haemorrhaging support, with standards on the field having plummeted from the heights reached in the previous campaign. Disillusioned fans were leaving Anfield early in their droves and the calls for change were growing ever louder. With three games to go, they drew 1-1 with Chelsea before the wheels came off spectacularly. A 3-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace in Steven Gerrard’s Anfield farewell was followed by a 6-1 humiliation at Stoke City. “A lot has happened this year that has made the job difficult,” Brendan Rodgers told reporters after a sixth-placed finish and Europa League football was confirmed. “They have every right to be angry and frustrated, and I take full responsibility. There’s an awful lot of work to do and the job is now to go and fix that, and make sure we come back with a motivation greater than ever to push on next season.” Eleven years ago, owner Fenway Sports Group (FSG) ignored the outside noise and resisted the temptation to sack the Northern Irishman. Despite Rodgers having not won a trophy during his three years at the helm, they decided he had sufficient credit in the bank, having led Liverpool agonisingly close to Premier League title glory in 2013-14. Their faith that he would revive the club’s fortunes with the help of a few shrewd additions in the summer transfer window proved horribly misplaced. Rodgers couldn’t shake off the cloak of negativity that had enveloped his Anfield reign and within three months of the following season starting, he was gone, with Liverpool on 12 points from eight matches and 10th in the Premier League. FSG will imminently face a similarly big decision over the fate of Arne Slot. Everything up until now has pointed to them standing by the Dutchman. There is sympathy with what he’s had to contend with this season — from the loss of Diogo Jota last July to the succession of crushing injury setbacks. Unlike Rodgers, Slot is a Premier League title-winner and should still salvage Champions League qualification from the wreckage of this campaign. But the mutinous mood inside Anfield on Saturday sent a clear message to the hierarchy about the scale of the unrest. It felt like this was the day when patience truly snapped. A Liverpool manager hadn’t faced this level of dissent on home turf since the final throes of Roy Hodgson’s tenure in late 2010. The boos rained down from the stands at the sight of 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha, who had set up the opening goal for Ryan Gravenberch, being substituted midway through the second half. Supporters had expected the ineffective Cody Gakpo to make way for Alexander Isak. Slot explained that Ngumoha, who has yet to complete 90 minutes at first-team level, had been suffering from cramp after being handed only his third league start. “I knew the moment Rio’s number went up that would be the reaction, but that’s not a reason not to do it and keep a player in the team that tells me he cannot continue,” he said. More boos followed at the final whistle as Anfield delivered a withering assessment of what had been served up. Forget apathy: the empty seats by the end suggested the overriding emotion was one of anger. Asked if he truly believed he could win back the support of those who have turned against him, Slot said: “Yes, I do. Not this season, by the way. “This season, they will have their opinion and it will not change. But if we can have the summer that we are planning to have, then I’m 100 per cent convinced we will be a different team next season than we are now.” The problem is that so much goodwill has been lost over the past nine months that if Slot stays put and then Liverpool’s form at the start of next season is patchy, things will turn toxic at Anfield very quickly. And if the decision-makers at FSG find themselves having to make a change mid-season, as they did in 2015, the calibre of candidates available is highly unlikely to be comparable to those out of work this summer. Xabi Alonso, who would be a popular choice among supporters, will surely be in a new job. There certainly won’t be a saviour in the mould of Jurgen Klopp waiting to pick up the pieces, as he did 11 years ago. Of course, amid all the glory, there were a couple of torrid seasons under Klopp. But when Liverpool’s defence of the Premier League title fell to pieces in 2020-21 due to a centre-back injury crisis and then they trailed home fifth in 2022-23, the collective feeling was always that the situation would be even worse without Klopp. Belief in him was unwavering. That’s not the case with Slot, who doesn’t have the same kind of stature or bond with the fanbase. There’s also a massive disconnect between what supporters expect to see from a Liverpool side and the brand of football the former Feyenoord boss is repeatedly serving up. Chelsea arrived at Anfield in crisis, having suffered six successive league defeats. When Gravenberch struck inside six minutes, Liverpool had the perfect platform to kick on, go for the jugular and exploit the Londoners’ frailties. Inexplicably, they took their foot off the gas. As sporting director Richard Hughes watched on from the directors’ box, the hosts retreated and allowed Chelsea time and space to operate. The home fans vented their spleen at the erratic Ibrahima Konate for putting his studs on the ball and slowing the game down. No urgency, no tempo, no intensity. Were they following orders? The alarm bells were ringing long before Enzo Fernandez equalised. “Didn’t you see me screaming on the sidelines: ‘Go back! Go back! Defend your own box’,” Slot said sarcastically. “Of course that wasn’t the idea for us to back off. We wanted to keep going but we played against a team who got more and more comfortable on the ball. “They didn’t have any wingers available, so they brought a lot of midfielders and they started to control the midfield, passing through us more and more. It didn’t lead to many chances but they were by far the dominant team in the game. “At half-time, we changed things. We could press them high and keep them in their half. Not perfect because they could play through us a few times but not as much as in the first half. “I don’t think it’s fair that anyone could ever think I tell my players to back off, drop deep and not to press. Either you haven’t seen my teams playing… it did look like we dropped deep — but that was never the intention. We just couldn’t control all their midfielders.” Even accounting for the absentees due to injury, this was bleak. Liverpool had just three attempts on target and created an expected goals (xG) tally of just 0.56. Gakpo had six touches in the first half and won one out of five duels before he was finally hauled off. His needless offside ensured Curtis Jones’ celebrations were cut short after nodding home. Jeremie Frimpong was a tough watch down the right. The midfield was a mess, with Alexis Mac Allister winning one out of nine duels, Dominik Szoboszlai one of seven and Gravenberch five of 11. Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk hit the woodwork but victory would have flattered the hosts. The howls of derision deep into stoppage time when Giorgi Mamardashvili caught the ball and nobody seemed interested in launching a late counter-attack encapsulated Liverpool’s problems. The end of the season can’t come soon enough. There’s so much wrong and it requires a sizeable leap of faith to believe Slot can fix it. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/72...ool-fans-arne-slot-patience/?source=twitteruk

Anfield anger towards Slot feels worse than disastrous Hodgson era Fifteen years ago, the disconnect between Liverpool’s manager and fans became intolerable. Against Chelsea, it felt even more toxic Dominic King Merseyside Football Reporter, at Anfield Much water has passed under the bridge since January 1, 2011, but that bleak afternoon must be revisited following Liverpool’s latest false step. The context: Liverpool played host to Bolton Wanderers and Roy Hodgson was manager. A few days earlier, his side had been beaten 1-0 by Wolves at Anfield and The Kop erupted, singing “Hodgson for England!” as the contest petered out – the chant, to be clear, wasn’t complimentary. Hodgson was swimming forlornly against a tide of unpopularity and when Kevin Davies scored late in the first half, ambivalence turned to fury. Liverpool, eventually, turned things around with goals from Fernando Torres and Joe Cole, in injury time, but the big takeaway from the day was the attendance. Liverpool’s fans showed their feelings to the manager with their feet: a crowd of 35,400 – almost 10,000 below the then capacity – showed the public would not tolerate the situation any longer. A week later, Hodgson was gone. His reign had lasted 192 days and featured defeats at home to Blackpool, in the Premier League, and Northampton in the League Cup, plus one of the worst Merseyside Derby displays in living memory; there was also the matter of a High Court date when the club was threatened with administration. That’s only 15 years ago and, truly, that was a time you could describe as being one of the worst in the club’s history. Why, then, does the feeling around Anfield now make it impossible not to draw the conclusion this is worse? Feeling is a key word. In the tunnel, there is a slogan proclaiming to players that “it’s the emotion that gets you” before they head onto the pitch – Anfield is different in terms of the energy that can be drawn from emotion but, at present, positivity is non-existent. An early goal from Ryan Gravenberch should have provided lift-off for Liverpool and the impetus to demolish a Chelsea team that looked like it was waiting to suffer its seventh straight league defeat but, instead, they retreated so deep that all they did was invite pressure – and fury. Boos arrived at half-time, boos greeted Rio Ngumoha’s substitution, boos tumbled down at the final whistle. They perhaps did not carry the same sting as when Tottenham escaped with the only point of Igor Tudor’s brief stint on March 15, but the sentiment behind them was inescapable. On this weekend 12 months ago, Trent Alexander-Arnold walked into a furnace during a 2-2 draw with Arsenal, with Anfield aiming its fury at a local boy who was soon to leave. If the ferocity of the booing that day, at an individual, was a surprise, there is no shock now when opprobrium descends on the team for its style of play. This is football in 2026. Still, such visible displays of emotion will not sit well with many matchgoers, those who still pride themselves on having the patience and tolerance for which Liverpool fans were synonymous not too long ago: they are not blind to problems but have never wanted dirty laundry aired in public. They did not do it when the Brendan Rodgers regime was crumbling in the autumn of 2015, when the team lost its identity and results became horribly erratic. How, then, has it become so intolerable for a head coach who last season led the club to its 20th league championship? Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s Sporting Director, was in attendance for this game and he was the man who identified and recruited Arne Slot to take the club forward following Jurgen Klopp’s departure in 2024. He could not have failed to take on board the anger in the stadium. “It is so simple,” said Slot. “What the fans want to see, what I want and what everyone wants is a team that creates chances from ball possession. If you look at the goals scored, it is the biggest difference between this and last season (83 in 2024/25, 60 in 2025/26). “If the same fans see a similar kind of game but it leads to more chances they would be much happier. And if that leads to a win. I know from being so long in football, judging a performance is mainly done from results. Last season we found many times a way to score a goal.” The thing is, even if Liverpool had found a goal here in the dying stages, it would not have changed the mood or the feeling of disconnection. Slot had said at his media briefing on Friday that three wins from the final three games would not put a positive slant on the campaign, and he was right. Slot argued here that if all the balls fall into place this summer, he is confident he can turn the mood in the stadium again but one wonders whether the Dutchman truly appreciates the size of that task. Words, as it stands, do not mean much. What those who aired their views want to see is a Liverpool team that runs until it is breathless, tackles and works and does all the things the stadium expects. Without those core values, it is going to remain feeling like that grim New Year’s Day. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/05/09/anfield-anger-slot-feels-worse-disastrous-hodgson-era/

Thanks. I just read his comments. I apologise. You haven't banged your head after all. I should do my research lol

No I didn't. Do I need to take back what I said?

Have you banged your head? There is not a cat in hells chance that Mac Allister starts on the bench against Arsenal lol. He only missed last nights game because his wife had a baby.

Should we get excited that Joyce has started following him on twitter lol. Is he about to break something haha

Liverpool FINALLY make Trent Alexander-Arnold contract offer as mega £78m deal on table The Reds hope to keep their howmegrown right-back who has attracted the interest of Real Madrid as his contract ticks down towards the end of the season By John Richardson Sports Correspondent 20:30, 4 Jan 2025 Liverpool have offered Trent Alexander-Arnold a huge £78 million five year contract to try and keep the England defender out of the clutches of Real Madrid. There’s a similar £300,000 a week deal on the Bernabeu table for the 26-year-old but in addition he could expect a huge signing on fee from the Spanish giants if he joins in the summer as a free agent. It’s all left the player in a dilemma, torn between remaining at his home town club with the chance of further establishing himself as a Kop idol or becoming a Galactico capture for arguably the biggest club in world football. Liverpool feel they can’t do anymore to try and entice Alexander-Arnold to remain at Anfield for the prime years of an already sparkling career on Merseyside. There have been no demands from Alexander-Arnold to be handed the captaincy. He knows he is the natural successor to Virgil van Dijk when the Dutchman’s time as a regular first teamer comes to an end. As reported Real Madrid would love to sign him now and are prepared to invest £20 million even though TAA becomes a Bosman free in the summer. That is non negotiable for Liverpool who are in the midst of what could be a Premier League title winning season. The player himself is against leaving in January, unwilling to rock the boat. In the meantime he has kept his own counsel on the future as he weighs up both inviting options stating recently: “I have signed four or five contract extensions and none of those have been played out in public – and this one won’t be either.” As revealed Liverpool are more confident of both Mo Salah and Van Dijk agreeing new two year deals with their current contracts also coming to an end in the summer. Like Alexander-Arnold they are now able to negotiate with foreign clubs and especially in Salah’s case there is huge interest from the continent and Saudi Arabia but he wants to extend his Liverpool stay for the right rewards. https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/trent-alexander-arnold-liverpool-contract-34419768

The game against Arsenal is the fa cup

Part 1 https://thirdmanruns.wordpress.com/2...ing-cp-part-1/ Part 2 https://thirdmanruns.wordpress.com/2...e-jump-part-2/

Ruben Amorim to Liverpool? Why Sporting coach who took team to first title in 19 years is so in demand Ruben Amorim has been attracting interest from Europe's top clubs following his success with Sporting in Portugal but what would the 39-year-old coach now linked with the Liverpool job bring to the Premier League? Adam Bate speaks to rival coaches to find out... Adam Bate Monday 1 April 2024 15:56, UK It has long been inevitable that Ruben Amorim would take one of Europe's biggest jobs. Winning the title with Sporting in 2021 at the age of 36 all but guaranteed that. The fact that he is on course to repeat the feat in 2024 only underlines his ability as a coach. Sporting recognised that this was a special talent very early, famously paying a huge release clause after his spectacular start at Braga. They bet on his tactical mind, his fierce commitment as a player, but more than anything on the power of his personality. In conversation with a series of Portuguese coaches, some of whom have pitted their wits against Amorim this season, we will explore his rise, what it is that makes him so impressive as a coach, and, crucially, whether this can be translated into his next job. Amorim, the player, was part of a fine Benfica team, winning three league titles in Lisbon. He was good enough to make Portugal's World Cup squad in 2010 but is remembered as a worker, in midfield or at right-back. A team man who brought unity. Injury forced him to retire early at the age of 32, fast-tracking him on a new path as a coach. His time at Casa Pia, then in the third tier, was curtailed as he was forced to resign with the club facing punishment because he did not have the required licence. Amorim then rejected a role with Benfica's B team, opting to take Braga's instead, where he would have more control. He ascended to the top job within months, taking them from eighth to third, going unbeaten in the league and winning the Taca da Liga. Sporting were so convinced that they acted swiftly, paying his eight-figure buy-out clause, making him one of the most expensive managerial hires in history. He repaid them with a first title in 19 years in his first full season, bringing clarity at a chaotic club. 'Really intense' A Benfica fan as a boy, he recalled watching tapes of the great AC Milan side too, but it is Jose Mourinho who he describes as a reference point for his coaching career. He even visited Mourinho to learn from him during his time at Manchester United in 2018. A scrapper as a player, he shares that underdog spirit, that siege mentality. "I am a bit like that. I identify more with the other side, more thinking about how I am going to beat the opponent and how I am going to try to make sure they do not score goals." Vasco Seabra, head coach of Estoril, Sporting's neighbours just along the coast, confirms that Amorim's teams reflect his own work ethic. "His team is really organised and fights a lot," Seabra tells Sky Sports. "He is always trying to improve his players too. He works with young talent but also with experienced players as well and what they all have in common is that they fight. They are really intense." It was his character and leadership that helped him to turn things around so quickly in his first two jobs in management. There is a charisma to Amorim that shines through in one-on-one meetings with his players and the face he presents to the world's media. "I think he wins a lot with his communication," says Seabra. "It is really, really good. His message is clear and it is easy to understand. The players connect with him easily. Even on the outside, for the reporters and the public, it is really simple and really concrete." Vitor Campelos, currently head coach of Portuguese top-division side Gil Vicente, knows Amorim well having won and lost games against him with Chaves last season. He echoes this view of the now 39-year-old coach as an expert communicator off the pitch. "He has this positive mindset, a really good mentality," Campelos tells Sky Sports. "He has created a good connection between him and the players and also with the president. He is always straight with the players and even with the press he is a straight person." 'An ability to shape diamonds' There is no doubt that Amorim's reputation as a player in Portugal has helped him to get his ideas across quickly. "He has this add-on having been a player and, with having these ideas as well, that puts him on another level," Joao Nuno Fonseca tells Sky Sports. Fonseca was the assistant manager of Benfica B during Amorim's rise and is particularly appreciative of the work that he does with young players. Sporting boast one of the best academies around but had previously been unable to make that count like Benfica. "The work that he has done and is continuing to do in developing young talent is the biggest reason for his success," Fonseca explains. "Sporting have an amazing academy with a lot of talent. And Ruben is a coach who has an ability to shape diamonds." He adds: "I know how difficult it is to manage those egos at Benfica. Making that step from the youth to the first team, you need to have a certain sensibility. At the same time, the president is demanding performances and results. He has delivered all of it." 'Likes to bet on young players' Having lost star player Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United just weeks prior to his arrival, Amorim built a new team - a better team. "He is the kind of coach who likes to bet on young players," says Campelos. It was a gamble that ended Sporting's long title drought. Pedro Porro, now at Tottenham, came in on loan from Manchester City. Matheus Nunes, now at City, was introduced in midfield. Tiago Tomas and Nuno Mendes were blooded from the academy. It was young Pedro Goncalves who fired Sporting to glory that season. Mendes left for Paris Saint-Germain at the end of that campaign, key midfielder Joao Palhinha departing for the Premier League alongside Nunes the following year. The sales brought a brief dip in results, corrected emphatically this season, but big profits. Executives take note of such things. "Big clubs are looking at him because they understand that the academy brings profits," says Fonseca. "I would say his biggest quality is the human side and how he has been able to shape those diamonds that he has." That Amorim has been able to rebuild is a testament to his tactical acumen. New heroes have emerged, including English winger Marcus Edwards and striker Viktor Gyokeres, signed from Coventry in the summer, whose goals have taken Sporting back to the top. The formation remains the same, it is the base from which he works. "It is difficult because he always plays with that line of five," says Seabra. Others would describe it as a 3-4-3 formation in possession. "When they are defending, it is 5-2-3," says Campelos. "He likes to have technical players in the forward line with the two wingers, Edwards and Pedro Goncalves. Edwards is having a good season. But the biggest surprise here is the striker who was in England. He is an amazing player. He is strong and he is fast." Europe has been more testing, although Sporting did eliminate Arsenal from the Europa League last season. "Ruben has a tactical flexibility. He bases it on the opponent, particularly in Europe. He always considers the weaknesses of the opponent," says Fonseca. "He plays a high defensive line most of the time and is good on transitions. It is still a positive game idea based around ball possession. This arrogance in the playing style is very positive for young players because they have this no-fear mentality. That is key." 'An amazing coach' It is easy to see why such a coach would appeal to Europe's biggest clubs, although prising him away from Sporting is not so straightforward. His hefty release clause is a factor and so is his loyalty. The control he enjoys would not be replicated elsewhere. "Even at Sporting, there is good money," says Campelos. "It is not so easy to change to another team. Ruben is waiting. He is smart. He is a clever guy. For sure, he is waiting to take the right step. Waiting for a team where he can have success." There is confidence, however, that when he does choose to leave, he will succeed. "I think he is ready to be in the best leagues," says Seabra. Picking the right club is the important thing now. He has been patient. "I think it is a result of his personality," says Fonseca. "If a big Premier League club calls, he will discuss it, of course, because he has big ambitions. But when the club gives you the conditions to work, when you feel adored by the people around you, why would you change to something that is unpredictable?" It is a mistake that Andre Villas-Boas made when taking the Chelsea job after just one season at Porto. In a sense, Amorim has already avoided that error by continuing his education at Sporting this long, mirroring the decision of Xabi Alonso to stay at Bayer Leverkusen. "In Portugal as in England, you have good coaches and not so good coaches," says Campelos. "Sometimes clubs just want a Portuguese coach who has nothing in common with those who succeed. In Portugal, we are thinking, 'Oh no, that team will have problems'." But Campelos does not put Amorim in that category. None of his peers do. "I think Ruben is an amazing coach," says Seabra. The Premier League could be about to find out. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13104342/ruben-amorim-to-liverpool-why-sporting-coach-who-took-team-to-first-title-in-19-years-is-so-in-demand

What happened with Liverpool and Xabi Alonso – and where does the club look now? James Pearce, David Ornstein and more Mar 30, 2024 When Liverpool’s new sporting director Richard Hughes received a phone call from the agent Inaki Ibanez this week, it only served to confirm what he had long since expected: Xabi Alonso would be staying at Bayer Leverkusen this summer. News of Alonso committing his future to the Bundesliga club on Friday was a blow for supporters hoping to see the Spaniard hired as Jurgen Klopp’s successor. However, internally at Liverpool, there was little sense of surprise. They had started focusing their attention on alternative candidates. Hughes has a strong relationship with Ibanez having appointed another one of his clients, Andoni Iraola, as Bournemouth manager in June 2023. There had been dialogue between them so Liverpool knew where things stood. Alonso was the clear favourite to take over from Klopp as a result of his work at Leverkusen, who he has led to the brink of the Bundesliga title, and his emotional bond with Liverpool from his playing days under Rafael Benitez. He ticked a lot of boxes. But he was never offered the job and there were no face-to-face discussions. When Liverpool initially made contact with Alonso’s camp shortly after Klopp’s announcement on January 26 that he intended to step down in May, they were informed that the 42-year-old was concentrating on his job at Leverkusen and was unlikely to be available this summer. The door was not completely closed but the message was clear: this was not the time to talk. A line of communication was kept open between Alonso’s camp and Liverpool as the club was going through an off-field restructuring, with Hughes arriving under Michael Edwards, who was appointed as owners Fenway Sports Group’s new football chief executive on March 12. Liverpool wanted their leadership team in place before trying to take things any further with Alonso. Another one of the Spaniard’s former clubs, Bayern Munich, were also in pursuit as they sought a successor for Thomas Tuchel and the club had several communications with Alonso’s camp. But his head was not turned by them either — despite being promised significant power in terms of reshaping the squad. As for Liverpool, Edwards and Hughes wanted to be sure that their intelligence that Alonso would be remaining at Leverkusen was correct. They were keen to know if it would be worth meeting him to gauge his thoughts around the Liverpool project but ultimately — despite suggestions in Germany that a summit was planned for the international break — it never happened. It fell to Bayern’s honorary president Uli Hoeness to offer the first public indication on Thursday that the game was up, at least from Bayern’s perspective. “It will be difficult, if not probably impossible (to appoint Alonso),” he said. “He’s more inclined to stay at Bayer Leverkusen in view of their current successes because he would not want to leave them behind. Let’s say if he had two or three more years of success, it would probably be easier to bring him out of there.” So why has Alonso opted to stay at Leverkusen and where do Liverpool go from here? We have spoken to multiple sources directly and indirectly connected to the clubs and the key figures involved to build up a picture. They asked to remain anonymous to protect their relationships. Fernando Carro sounded adamant. “Xabi has a contract until 2026 and there is no doubt that he will stay here,” insisted Leverkusen’s chief executive on March 19, when asked about his manager’s future. His confidence proved to be well-founded. During a meeting with Carro and sporting director Simon Rolfes last week, Alonso informed them that he would turn down interest from elsewhere and remain loyal to Leverkusen. He explained that he was excited about the prospect of unlocking further potential in the squad and leading them in the Champions League next season. Rolfes was unsurprised: he had always felt confident that Alonso would remain provided Real Madrid did not unexpectedly express an interest in hiring him this summer. Alonso, who had spent the early part of the international break considering his future, felt the time was right to make his decision public when he addressed the media on Friday before Saturday’s Bundesliga game against Hoffenheim. He wanted to put a stop to the speculation and provide some clarity. “My job is not over here,” Alonso said. “Putting everything together, I’ve taken this important decision. I am convinced it’s the right one. “This is my first full season as a manager. I still have a lot of things to prove and to experience. Right now, I have a situation where I feel really stable and happy. This is the right place for me to develop as a coach.” It is a big call taking yourself out of contention for the Liverpool and Bayern Munich jobs. What if Leverkusen do not hit the same heights next season and Alonso’s stock falls? There are no guarantees that those opportunities will come along again soon. Those closest to Alonso, however, insist it is perfectly in keeping with his character. They point to the fact that he turned down the chance to manage Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach in 2021 in order to stay in charge of Real Sociedad’s B team. Alonso is not a man in a hurry and will not make the next step in his career until he believes he has gained sufficient experience. He only took over at Leverkusen in October 2022 and believes he is still learning his trade. The fact that he has yet to manage in the Champions League is another factor for him. It is not that Alonso lacks self-belief, but more that he is self-aware and appreciates his limitations. Money was never going to come into the equation for him. He doesn’t need it having banked a fortune during his playing career so he can afford to go at his own pace. This has been a feature of Alonso’s managerial career. Those who worked with Alonso at Sociedad say he was initially hesitant about managing their B team as he did not have a huge interest in the other areas of the job beyond coaching and was happy leading a quiet life in San Sebastian. He had taken some persuading to accept the job at Leverkusen but was swayed by the profile of their squad, the expectations of the club and being able to work away from the spotlight. There was a school of thought among some staff at Liverpool that, if Leverkusen won the Bundesliga, Alonso might decide he could not top that and move on. But the club were never given any false hope by his camp. Klopp conducted his media duties on Friday shortly after Alonso’s announcement and said he could relate to the decision he has taken. “Being a young manager at a club doing really well, I had a similar situation,” Klopp said. “I did pretty much the same and never regretted it. He’s doing an incredible job there. Leverkusen have a good team and they will probably keep their team together. That’s possible this year. Not every year is like that. I understand why he wants to do that (stay).” Real Madrid were a possible curveball. Alonso won La Liga and the Champions League during his five seasons at the Bernabeu after leaving Liverpool in 2009 and is viewed as a possible successor to Carlo Ancelotti, whose contract runs until 2026. Real Madrid CEO Jose Angel Sanchez regards Alonso highly and many at the club – including Ancelotti – see him as someone who could work well with the club’s generation of youngsters, although president Florentino Perez is less convinced he is quite ready for the step up. There has been no contact between Real Madrid and Alonso recently and his decision to stay at Leverkusen for at least one more season is not linked to any interest from the Spanish giants. Alonso has also been mentioned as a possible successor to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. So where do Liverpool turn now? Senior Anfield figures insist it was never a case of the job simply being Alonso’s if he wanted it. They had kept an open mind and wanted to conduct a rigorous process to assess the merits of a host of candidates. That started when Klopp informed the owners of his plans in November and was then stepped up after the manager’s public announcement two months ago. The search — masterminded by Hughes, with input from Edwards — has been data-led to establish who could be a good fit stylistically. Character and background checks have been made as part of the due diligence to establish who has the right personality to follow in Klopp’s footsteps. Talk behind the scenes has centred on suitability and availability with dialogue with a number of agents. Alonso probably would have emerged as the strongest candidate if he had been interested, with even Klopp championing his credentials last month. “The next generation is already there and I would say Xabi is the stand-out in that department,” Klopp said. “A former world-class player, obviously coaching family as well which helps a little bit. He was like a coach already when he was playing. The football he is playing, the teams he sets up, the transfers he did — it was absolutely exceptional.” Liverpool are now in the process of drawing up a shortlist. Sporting’s Ruben Amorim is under serious consideration. The 39-year-old is highly regarded having ended Sporting’s 19-year wait for the Portuguese title in 2021, and fits FSG’s profile of what they value in managers. His attacking brand of football is seen as being of a similar style to that established under Klopp. Sporting are a point clear of rivals Benfica as they chase another league title under Amorim. His release clause could ultimately be around €10million — lower than some of the figures previously reported. Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi and Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann — who both scored well on Liverpool’s initial data research — have been discussed. De Zerbi’s side have not consistently hit the heights of last season but there is an appreciation that he lost his two best players with the sales of Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool and Moises Caicedo to Chelsea last summer. However, his outspoken nature, and confrontational approach to player recruitment, could count against him. Nagelsmann, who is coaching Germany at this summer’s European Championships, has been out of club football since being sacked by Bayern Munich in March 2023. Simone Inzaghi at Inter is regarded as an outsider. The Serie A club do not want to lose him and not being able to speak English would be an issue for him if he moved to the Premier League. Thiago Motta, who has over-achieved at Bologna, has been discussed, although he has been linked with a possible move to Juventus. Lille manager Paulo Fonseca, who is out of contract in the summer, is well-regarded and Tuchel is still available, although whether Edwards and Hughes would want another big name and character to follow Klopp is unclear. Thomas Frank also has his admirers courtesy of his work at Brentford, whose style of play under the Dane has similarities to Klopp’s Liverpool under Klopp, although moving to Anfield would represent a major step up. With two trophies still to play for during the run-in, Liverpool are unlikely to make any official appointment before the curtain comes down on Klopp’s reign. They are wary of causing upheaval to another club during such a pivotal period. But behind the scenes, Hughes will know that the clock is ticking as he helps shape the future direction. For now, that future does not involve Alonso. Additional reporting: Simon Hughes, Oliver Kay, Raphael Honigstein, Guillermo Rai, Mario Cortegana Santos https://theathletic.com/5377617/2024/03/30/liverpool-xabi-alonso-manager-what-now/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=twitterfc&source=twitteruk

Liverpool could land Ruben Amorim for as little as £12.8m after Xabi Alonso snub Exclusive: Sporting manager could join in summer for relatively low price after Leverkusen coach confirms he will not replace Jurgen Klop Jason Burt, CHIEF FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT and Chris Bascombe 29 March 2024 • 5:01pm Liverpool could land Ruben Amorim for as little as £12.8 million after Xabi Alonso confirmed he would not be succeeding Jurgen Klopp. Telegraph Sport understands the release clause in Amorim’s contract, that can be triggered at the end of this season, is €15 million. The clause, agreed with Sporting Lisbon, drops to €10m (£8.5m) in the summer of 2025 – and its existence means it will be easier for Liverpool to agree a deal with the Portuguese club should they eventually decide to make a move for the highly rated 39-year-old. It had previously been claimed in Portugal that the figure to release Amorim, who signed a new four-year deal in 2022, was significantly higher – around twice as much. Telegraph Sport revealed on Thursday that Liverpool are zoning in on other candidates because Alonso was deemed off limits. Amorim has won admirers for his work in Portugal where he ended a 19-year-wait for the title in his first full season with Sporting, who are top again this season. The former Braga coach, who speaks English, also won the Portuguese domestic cup in three successive years. Liverpool already know that the other strong contender being considered – Roberto De Zerbi – also has a termination clause in his deal with Brighton and Hove Albion. It has been revealed that this amount is at least £12 million – a similar amount to that which Liverpool would have to pay for Amorim but, again, hardly prohibitive to a deal being agreed. Liverpool are looking at other candidates and have considered a move for Julian Nagelsmann, whose current deal as coach of the German national team ends after Euro 2024, but it appears unlikely he will take over at Anfield. Fears over Alonso’s availability to replace Klopp were confirmed on Friday as he announced he will remain in charge of Bayer Leverkusen. The 42-year-old former Liverpool midfielder was considered the favourite to succeed Klopp after the German’s shock decision to quit the club at the end of the season. But Alonso said: “I had a good meeting with Bayer Leverkusen and I informed them that I will stay and continue at the club. After lots of talks about my future, I used the break to reflect and make my decision. This is the place to be for me.” Klopp had suggested Alonso was one of the standout candidates to replace him but said on Friday he could appreciate why the Spaniard decided to stay put. Klopp said: “A young manager being at a club doing well. I did pretty much the same [stayed when first offered the chance to leave] and never regretted it. He is doing a great job there. They have a great team and can keep the team together. I understand why he wants to do that.” Bayern Munich were also keen on Alonso as they search for a successor to Thomas Tuchel, who will leave the club in the summer. Alonso’s side are 10 points clear of Bayern with six games remaining, with Leverkusen on the verge of ending the German giants’ 11-year stranglehold on the Bundesliga trophy. Alonso added: “My job at Bayer is not over. I want to help the club, help the players to develop, the board is great… it’s all fantastic here. I’m still a young coach but I think this is the best decision for my future. I took my time and I’m sure about that. “I’m not going to comment about Liverpool or Bayern. These are big clubs and I’ve strong links with them but I’m in the place where I want to be. It’s not time to decide my future now – I want to develop at Bayer Leverkusen.” Liverpool want coach with same playing style as Klopp It is understood that Alonso feels he owes Leverkusen a debt for backing him with his first senior managerial job, that he wants to take them into the Champions League and also that he fears announcing he would be leaving now might derail a campaign in which they are heading for their first German title. Real Madrid will also be taking note of his decision to stay given they are interested in him when Carlo Ancelotti eventually leaves. Liverpool have appointed a new sporting director, Richard Hughes, who will take over in June, while Fenway Sports Group have reunited with former sporting director Michael Edwards, who is the American owners’ football chief executive. The pair will be ultimately responsible for selecting a new manager. The club’s data team is focusing on coaches whose sides are equipped at winning the ball high up the pitch – similar to Klopp – and whose teams will fit the make-up of the squad. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/03/29/xabi-alonso-liverpool-snub-decides-stay-bayer-leverkusen/

Arsenal ready to add Roméo Lavia after capture of Declan Rice Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are also interested in the player Southampton value at £50 million Tom Allnutt Monday July 03 2023, 6.20pm, The Times Arsenal are ready to make a move for the Southampton midfielder Roméo Lavia once the signing of Declan Rice from West Ham United is completed. The final details of Rice’s £105 million transfer are still being negotiated but Arsenal want to continue their summer spending spree by bidding for Lavia, although they expect to face strong competition from Liverpool for the 19-year-old. Chelsea and Manchester United are also interested in Lavia, with Southampton wanting £50 million for the Belgium player. Southampton signed Lavia from Manchester City for £12 million only a year ago. City are yet to show interest in re-signing Lavia but did insert a sell-on clause in his contract, which could earn the club up to 20 per cent of the transfer fee if he leaves Southampton this summer. Pep Guardiola, the City manager, admitted in April that he would have preferred to have kept Lavia but could not offer him the playing minutes he wanted. “I am really impressed with what Roméo has done and is doing,” Guardiola said. “We had, and we have, an incredible opinion about him. We thought to keep him, but maybe he would not [get] enough minutes like he has in Southampton.” City pulled out of the race to sign Rice last week, clearing the way for Arsenal to agree a deal of £100 million, plus a further £5 million in bonuses, with West Ham. Both clubs are still negotiating the final details of the transfer but there are no concerns from either side, with Arsenal already making arrangements for Rice’s medical and media appearances around the announcement. West Ham want Arsenal to pay the initial £100 million in full within the first two years. If Arsenal were to sign Lavia as well, their summer spending could pass the £250 million mark. Kai Havertz joined from Chelsea for £70 million while talks are at an advanced stage for both Rice and Jurrien Timber, the Holland defender who is expected to join from Ajax for £40 million. Arsenal will seek to recoup a hefty chunk of their outlay through sales, with Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey and Folarin Balogun among those that could generate high fees. Bayer Leverkusen want to sign Xhaka while Balogun is attracting interest from Inter and AC Milan. Saudi Arabia remains a possible destination for Partey. Tottenham Hotspur are in talks with Barcelona about signing Clément Lenglet, who spent last season on loan at Spurs. Barça want €15 million (about £12.9m) for the French defender while Tottenham are hoping to pay less than €10 million. The Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said he believes an agreement will be reached for the 28-year-old, who made 35 appearances for Spurs last season. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...-lavia-after-capture-of-declan-rice-pt7lmlvk7