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XABI ALONSO TURNS HEADS, DETAILS DECISION TO REJECT LIVERPOOL JOB

Xabi Alonso reveals he never considered replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, explaining his past commitment to Bayer Leverkusen. The now-Real Madrid boss returns to Anfield for a Champions League clash against his former club.

Xabi Alonso turns heads, details decision to reject Liverpool job
Alonso clarifies his stance after Klopp announcement - Photo Credit: Getty Images

After Jurgen Klopp's unexpected departure, Xabi Alonso already acknowledged that he never considered taking over as manager of Liverpool. Klopp shocked the football community in January 2024 when he announced his intention to retire at the end of the current campaign.

With many possible candidates being hailed for the role, including Alonso as the clear favourite, this allowed the Reds ample opportunity to find a substitute for him. The Spaniard was strongly linked to the position because of his outstanding accomplishments with Bayer Leverkusen at the time and his reputation as a beloved character from his five years as a player there.

When Leverkusen played the Reds in the Champions League last year, Alonso made his comeback to Anfield. However, he had a difficult night as the defending Bundesliga winners were crushed 4-0, due to goals from Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz.

The 43-year-old clarified his dedication to Leverkusen before the game, addressing the earlier rumours that he was considering a position at Liverpool before Arne Slot's eventual hiring.

"I had a major deal with the Leverkusen players at the time, and we were extremely focused on that," Alonso stated. "I have watched Klopp do a lot of different things here, but I have also followed Slot.

"I am aware of his methodology, but when paired with the energy at Liverpool, they have a winning combination that explains their dominance in the Premier League and Champions League. The procedure functions incredibly well since they are really powerful in every area.

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"In just three months, the manager has performed admirably. They have a ton of choices, including Gakpo, Diaz, Tsimikas, Robertson, Szoboszlai, and Mac Allister.

Alonso ended speculation about his managerial future just two months after Klopp's announcement by announcing he would stay in Germany for the 24–25 season.

Since Thomas Tuchel was scheduled to depart his role at Bayern Munich last year, Alonso was also connected to the position. Speaking on his decision to stay at Leverkusen, he said at the time: "I am happy and I am sure it is the right choice. My future has been the subject of much conjecture.

We have played a lot of games up to this point, so we have been really busy and concentrated. I wanted to think things through and make a choice over the international break. The players' dedication, passion, and hunger for a successful season provided me with a lot of reasons to continue to believe in the club. This is not where my work ends.

After taking over for Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, another of his previous clubs, at the end of the previous season, Alonso finally left the German team. When his new team plays Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday, the former Reds midfielder will make his return to Anfield.

There will be other well-known faces returning to Merseyside besides Alonso. After leaving Liverpool in the summer, Trent Alexander-Arnold may play against his boyhood team for the first time.

Alexander-Arnold responded to a question about what he would do if he scored during the match by telling Prime Video Sport, "I would not celebrate if I scored.

Under Alonso, Real Madrid has had a fantastic start to the season. In the La Liga standings, Los Blancos are now five points ahead of Barcelona.

WHY DID JEREMY JACQUET SNUB CHELSEA FOR LIVERPOOL? THE SECRET VIRGIL CONNECTION

Liverpool secure Jeremy Jacquet in a £60m Deadline Day coup. The 20-year-old chose Anfield over Chelsea for a summer move.

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Liverpool scouted Jeremy Jacquet in secret before the huge £60m bid

Liverpool turned heads on Transfer Deadline Day when Arne Slot jumped into the mix and snapped up one of Europe’s brightest young talents.

The Reds dropped £55 million up front—plus another potential £5 million in add-ons—to bring in Jeremy Jacquet. He’ll link up with his new teammates this summer. Chelsea hovered around the deal too, but Jacquet chose Liverpool over the Blues.

French football pundit Julian Laurens isn’t shy about his excitement. He told Sky Sports, “He’s the real deal. Sure, he’s only 20. He hasn’t played for France yet, and you won’t find him in the Champions League or Europa League. But he’s already shown so much. Last season, Rennes brought him back from a second division loan, and this year, playing under Habib Beye, he’s just kept improving. You can’t miss with this kid. He’s going to be special.

“He reminds me of when William Saliba broke through at Saint-Etienne, or even Wesley Fofana. The point is, if you really value untapped talent, you’re willing to pay big. And Liverpool just did—because Jacquet’s that promising.”

Jacquet grew up in Bondy, the same Paris suburb that produced Kylian Mbappe, William Saliba, and Randal Kolo Muani. It’s up in Seine-Saint-Denis, northeast of central Paris.

His football education, though, happened at Rennes out in Brittany. He came up through their academy, playing alongside guys like Desire Doue—who won the Champions League with PSG—and Tottenham’s Mathys Tel.

Back then, Jacquet idolised Paul Pogba, but once they moved him to centre-back, he started looking up to Virgil van Dijk.

He made his first-team debut for Rennes in January 2024, then went on loan to Clermont Foot 63, who were fighting relegation in Ligue 1. Even after they went down, Rennes kept him out on loan because he did so well with the French U19 squad.

But in February 2025, Rennes called him back, and he’s been a regular for Habib Beye ever since.

Asked about his playing style, Jacquet said, “I’m calm on the ball—maybe I look a little nonchalant, but I’m always focused. What makes me stand out is playing out from the back and breaking lines with the right pass.”

JEREMY JACQUET UPDATE: FABRIZIO ROMANO CONFIRMS LIVERPOOL INTEREST BUT RENNES DEMAND CLUB-RECORD FEE

Liverpool is battling Chelsea and Bayern Munich for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet as Arne Slot faces a mounting injury crisis.

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Liverpool is in advanced talks for Jeremy Jacquet, but Rennes hold out for the summer

Liverpool really wants to sign Jeremy Jacquet this month, but with Chelsea, Man United, and Arsenal also circling, it looks like they’ll have to wait until summer.

They just locked in a spot in the Champions League last 16 after cruising past Qarabag FK, so things are looking good on that front. This season, they’ve already faced a couple of those big clubs—snatching a last-gasp win over Atletico thanks to Van Dijk’s 92nd-minute header, but coming up short with a 1-0 loss to Galatasaray in Turkey.

On Wednesday, Ryan Gravenberch ended up playing centre-back because Joe Gomez is out injured, and Ibrahima Konate is still away after his father passed away. They're really stretched at the back, especially with Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni both dealing with long-term injuries. The club decided not to go after Marc Guehi this month, which let Manchester City snap him up for under £30 million.

Now, Liverpool is eyeing Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet. L’Equipe reported in January that Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal, and Liverpool all want him. Fabrizio Romano gave an update, saying Liverpool would love to get the deal done now, but Rennes just don’t want to sell until summer. So, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Bayern are all talking to Rennes and Jacquet’s people, but for now, it’s a waiting game.

With all these injuries piling up, people are wondering if Liverpool might try to bring in someone before the window closes. Arne Slot responded, saying the club always tries to make smart decisions, thinking about both the short and long term. That’s why they focus on signing young talent who can still develop—sometimes you just have to be patient and trust the process.

He pointed out that Liverpool doesn’t have a massive squad packed with four right-backs, a dozen midfielders, or a handful of strikers. They need to be clever about their moves, balancing immediate needs with future plans.

As for the latest on injuries, Slot said they’ll see how Jeremie Frimpong is doing—maybe he won’t be fit for Saturday, but he could be ready soon after. With just one game a week coming up, injuries should ease up a bit, but you never know with football.

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