Premier League

LIVERPOOL contacted Xabi Alonso in November about taking over from Jurgen Klopp, according to reports. Klopp shocked the footballing world last month when he confirmed he’d be departing Anfield after nearly nine years.
Xabi Alonso was part of Liverpool’s Champions League winning team of 2005Credit: Getty
He is one of the favourites to replace Jurgen Klopp as managerCredit: AP
Alonso, 42, is the overwhelming favourite to become the Reds’ new boss next term on the back of Klopp’s revelation that he will be stepping down.
Klopp, 56, has won the Premier League and Champions League with the Reds and is currently top of the Prem table, despite losing 3-1 to Arsenal on Sunday.
But he revealed he is running out of energy and cannot continue in the job year after year.
Klopp explained his decision to step down in an emotional interview in which he shared his love for the club, the fans and the city.
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But despite revealing it to the world last month, Klopp informed club chiefs as early as November last year.
And according to French media outlet Foot Mercato, Liverpool began the process of finding his replacement straight away.
The club reportedly made contact with Alonso three months ago.
The purpose of the first contact was to establish if Alonso would be interested in leaving his current role at Bayer Leverkusen.
Most read in FootballXabi Alonso is perfect man for the jobBy 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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Alonso, who made 210 appearances for Liverpool as a player, has already made a huge impact at Leverkusen despite being in his first full season of senior management.
The club currently sit top of Bundesliga, and remain unbeaten across all competitions this season, as they bid to win their first league title in their 120-year history.
Leverkusen reportedly remain optimistic and assume Alonso will stay at the club this summer, with the Spaniard already involved in their squad planning for next season.
The former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder broke his silence over the potential move last week.
Addressing the rumours linking him with the job, Alonso said: “At the moment I am really happy here and enjoying my work.
“Each day and game is a challenge. We are in an intense and beautiful journey here at Leverkusen.”
“Speculation is normal, but I have great respect and admiration for what Jurgen has done at Liverpool.”
Other candidates for the job include, Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, Sporting’s Ruben Amorim and Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann. More

CHELSEA reportedly “love” Girona boss Michel as the pressure ramps up on Mauricio Pochettino.The former Tottenham manager is feeling the heat after heavy consecutive defeats to Wolves and Liverpool.
Chelsea’s owners ‘love’ Girona boss MichelCredit: Getty
Chelsea are continuing to back Mauricio PochettinoCredit: Getty
And things could get even worse for fed-up fans in tonight’s FA Cup fourth round replay at Aston Villa.
Chelsea chiefs are continuing to back Pochettino after he led the Blues to the Carabao Cup final.
The Argentine even revealed he’d received a “very good text” from Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali after the 4-1 loss to Wolves at Stamford Bridge.
But El Chiringuito claims Chelsea’s co-owners are beginning to explore options.
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And one of their favourites is Girona miracle worker Michel.
Having previously led Rayo Vallecano and Huesca to LaLiga, he got Girona over the line last season too.
But things have got even better for the minnows this term, as they now sit SECOND in Spain’s top-flight.
Girona have lost just one game all season and sit only two points off leaders Real Madrid.
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They are also the top scorers in the competition and boast one of the best defences too.
And Chelsea are said to “love” Michel for his incredible exploits with an inexperienced group of players.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino says owners have texted him and he has met with Thiago Silva over his wife’s comments
One of the main criticism aimed at Boehly’s rebuild is that there’s no identity.
Michel appears to be the type of manager who is able to galvanise a squad.
But there is no indication there will be a change in Chelsea’s dugout any time soon, with Poch expected to be given at least the rest of the season bar a complete collapse in results. More

SIR JIM RATCLIFFE has been hit by furious backlash amid his plans for a £2BILLION taxpayer-funded stadium revamp. Old Trafford chiefs have long planned to rebuild the Theatre of Dreams and new part-owner Ratcliffe is on board with the idea.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been hit by furious backlash amid his plans for a £2BILLION taxpayer-funded stadium revampCredit: PA
In fact, SunSport understands Ratcliffe’s plans include lobbying the government’s “Levelling Up” pledges to give the north of England a venue to rival the 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium.
But fans responded furiously as one said: “If they want a new ground they can fund it themselves.”
Another added: “I don’t recall Arsenal or Spurs asking the taxpayer to pony up a bucket load of cash to build The Emirates or White Hart Lane.
“Let billionaire Ratcliffe dip into his own pockets.”
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One fumed: “It’s the start of another North American model. First ESL with closed competition and now with public subsidises for stadiums.
“Ratcliffe should know better – stadium subsidies are a waste of taxpayer money.”
Another slammed: “I don’t live in the North but I live in an area dying for investment.
“So the idea that my taxes could go along with millions more towards funding Man Utd’s stadium is disgusting! Under the guise of ‘levelling up’ too.”
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One potential plan Ratcliffe may follow for Old Trafford
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Even Tracey Crouch MP – the former sports minister whose recommendations have led to plans for an independent football regulator – opposed the idea.
She told City A.M: “Sir Jim Ratcliffe knew what he was taking on when he bought into Manchester United.
Five things Jim Ratcliffe must change at Manchester United including fixing Old Trafford, selling Sancho and Antony and winning the trust of the fans
“Old Trafford may need upgrading to meet today’s standards, but funding should not come out of the taxpayer’s pocket to benefit the billionaires who own the club – especially as other clubs like Bury have faced ruin, devastating the town around them, with no bailout from the public purse.”

Another plan under consideration is to redevelop the South Stand of the 74,000-capacity ground.
Current estimates put expansion could cost at least £800m, while building a completely new ground would cost up to £2bn.
The plans for the development of the current stadium have been cited internally as taking eight years to complete.
Ratcliffe has also reportedly already opened dialogue with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and other officials in Trafford Council over the future of the ground. More

FORMER Chelsea star Emmanuel Petit has lashed out at Mauricio Pochettino, claiming the current boss “doesn’t have a clue.”Ex-Tottenham manager Poch joined Chelsea last summer and was tasked with bringing Champions League football back to Stamford Bridge.
Mauricio Pochettino ‘doesn’t have a clue’ as Chelsea boss, according to Emmanuel PetitCredit: Getty
Ex-Blue Petit feels sorry for fans after another heavy defeatCredit: Getty – Contributor
Big fees were spent on players including Moises Caicedo, Axel Disasi and Nicolas Jackson.
But after 23 league games, Chelsea find themselves 11th in the table with just nine wins.
The Blues were booed off the pitch on Sunday as they suffered a 4-2 home hammering to Wolves.
That followed a 4-1 thrashing by Liverpool at Anfield last week.
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And the pressure is now on Pochettino ahead of tonight’s FA Cup fourth round replay at Aston Villa.
Chelsea’s season could end up resting on this month’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.
But Petit is not holding much hope for the contest as he reckons Pochettino is out of his depth.
The French World Cup winner played 76 games for Chelsea between 2001 and 2004.
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And he feels Pochettino is struggling to fit his tactics around the players given to him by Todd Boehly.
As a result, Petit “feels sorry” for fans who are seeing Chelsea become a shadow of their former self.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino says owners have texted him and he has met with Thiago Silva over his wife’s comments
Petit told compare.bet: “I was so disappointed with Chelsea’s performance against Wolves. They looked so disorganised, were tactically a mess, no fighting spirit, communication, or character. I felt pity on the Chelsea fans.
“I was thinking, why would you put Nkunku up front as a lone striker? Does he even know what Nkunku does best? 
“In Germany and France it is well known that he cannot play by himself up front and never has done that. He is very good in the 10 or in a two up front, but he can’t do that role at all.
“Pochettino refuses to mould his tactic around his players and the composition of the team just doesn’t make sense at the moment. 

“He doesn’t have a clue what he wants to do, and his body language is not good at all, he looks like he is on the way out already.”
Interestingly, Petit has backed a return to Stamford Bridge for Jose Mourinho.
Adding he would like to see John Terry as assistant, Petit added: “I’ve seen the speculation that Mourinho could come in with John Terry as his assistant.
 “When you think about it, it could be something interesting. He would give the team character and personality.
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“At the moment they are a broken team and he could be the man to come in and fix it. I actually think they need a manager who will have a proper vision of what needs to be done with the players that are there. 
“They have to stop buying players and looking at how they can develop what they have there already. Chelsea need to develop an identity, because at the moment they don’t have one.” More

ROBIN VAN PERSIE is back at Manchester United as he studies for his coaching badges.The Dutchman, 40, became an Old Trafford hero when he quit Arsenal to link up with Sir Alex Ferguson’s men in 2012.
Robin van Persie starred for Man Utd as a playerCredit: Getty
Van Persie, 40, visited his old Man Utd pals last seasonCredit: Getty
The Dutchman attended United’s 3-0 win over West Ham last weekendCredit: Rex
He went on to fire the Red Devils to the Premier League title during his first campaign, eventually finishing with 58 goals in three years with the club.
After leaving United in 2015 he spent two-and-a-half seasons with Fenerbahce before returning to boyhood club Feyenoord for the final 18 months of his playing career.
Since hanging up his boots in 2019, Van Persie has turned to coaching.
He began working as a coach at Feyenoord in 2020 and has since been diligently studying for his qualifications.
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Van Persie is currently working towards his Uefa Pro License through the Dutch FA.
As part of his studies, the former striker has had to spend time learning at a club away from the Netherlands, which is where Man Utd have come in.
According to The Athletic, Van Persie asked to visit the Red Devils – with boss Erik ten Hag saying yes.
While at Carrington he has been able to watch Ten Hag’s training sessions in addition to speaking with the boss, assistant Mitchell van der Gaag and football director John Murtough.
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Van Persie also caught up with former manager Ferguson at Old Trafford last weekend, as both watched United’s 3-0 win over West Ham.
He is expected to remain at Carrington until Thursday, with fans thrilled that he has been back – and many asking that he leave behind a parting gift regarding Rasmus Hojlund.
Rasmus Hojlund names dream Man Utd five-a-side team but snubs Wayne Rooney and Vidic
One wrote on social media: “Please coach Hojlund!”
While a second pleaded: “Bring him in he’d help Hojlund.”
A third even joked: “Can he play up-front alongside Rasmus as well?”
And another added: “Give @Persie_Official a job in coaching role teaching youngsters how to score..”
Hojlund, 21, arrived at Man Utd in a £72million deal from Atalanta last summer.
He failed to score in his opening 14 Premier League appearances, but has since found form.
The Dane has bagged in each of United’s last four Prem games, including a brilliant strike against West Ham in front of Van Persie.
Appearing on the The United Stand, Hojlund recently revealed his all-time Man Utd five-aside team – with Van Persie not making the cut.
He said: “I need to put Peter (Schmeichel) in goal. Peter is Danish.
“Peter won everything here. Peter is a legend here but is also a legend in Denmark because he won the Euros for us.
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“I need to put Rio (Ferdinand) in there because he’s very memorable to me. I would love to put (Nemanja) Vidic in there, but I can only have one defender.
“I want to put Ryan Giggs in there, Paul Scholes and then Cristiano Ronaldo up front.” More