Xabi Alonso Liverpool appointment will UNLOCK £87m midfielder deal

Arne Slot is under pressure as Liverpool head coach.

The 47-year-old delivered the Premier League title at the first time of asking - but the defending champions are experiencing a poor second season under his leadership.

The squad was remoulded last summer with sporting director Richard Hughes spending £450m on new players. But Slot has been unable to inspire his troops to repeat the successes of last season - winning only FIVE of the last 18 top-flight matches.

Accordingly it has been speculated that Hughes and his FSG paymasters may opt to make a change - either during the season or else next summer.

Slot is under contract until 2027 and plans for a new deal have been put on hold until the end of the campaign.

And following his sacking by Real Madrid it looks likely that Xabi Alonso would be willing and able to take over should Slot be dismissed.

Alonso can unlock Tchouameni signing

Bringing in Alonso may well help the club get the consistent best out of both Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz - two of his best players at Bayer Leverkusen.

And the Spaniard could also put his contacts at Madrid to good use - and help secure a deal for one of Liverpool’s long-standing midfield targets.

That’s according to a new report in TEAMtalk which claims that Aurelien Tchouameni could be one of the players arriving at Anfield should Alonso be appointed.

“Another midfielder Liverpool could revisit historic interest in is Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni,” the report reads.

“It must be stressed that recent claims Liverpool are ready to bid heavily for Tchouameni haven’t come from strong sources, but there was a mutual respect between the Frenchman and Alonso during their time working together in the Spanish capital, which could aid any faint hopes Liverpool have of getting their man.”

Liverpool are long-term admirers of Tchouameni

Tchouameni, 26, first moved to Madrid back in 2022 - joining in a big-money deal from Monaco. Since then he has become a useful player for the 15-time European champions and was a big hit under Alonso before his departure.

In recent days it’s been speculated that Madrid would be willing to listen to a bid for Tchouameni - who is under contract at the Bernabeu until 2028.

Liverpool have a need for new midfielders - and revisiting their interest in Tchouameni under a coach that knows him very well would be an ideal place to start.

The France international is likely to cost in the region of £87m but would be a quality addition in the centre of midfield.

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