Wirtz Signals Preference for Alonso as Liverpool Weighs Slot's Future

Liverpool's attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz apparently harbours a preference for reuniting with Xabi Alonso at Anfield rather than persisting with current boss Arne Slot, if reports emanating from Germany are to be believed.

The 22-year-old's history with Alonso stretches back to their time together at Bayer Leverkusen, where the pair combined to land the Bundesliga crown during the 2023/24 season. When Alonso subsequently took the Real Madrid job last summer, he expressed interest in bringing Wirtz to the Spanish capital—a request that club president Florentino Perez declined to entertain. Instead, Wirtz moved to Liverpool for £116million.

His early months on Merseyside proved challenging as he adjusted to Slot's tactical framework, though the German winger has found his feet of late. Meanwhile, the pressure mounting on Slot cannot be ignored, particularly with Liverpool's top-flight credentials under scrutiny and a potential struggle to secure a Champions League spot looming.

While FSG are unlikely to dispense with Slot mid-campaign, the Dutchman's position will surely come under review once the season concludes. Alonso has emerged as the bookies' favourite to succeed him, and there have already been whispers about the Spaniard requesting three major summer signings should he get the gig.

The latest twist comes courtesy of a German source claiming Wirtz has been communicating his preference for an Alonso-led Liverpool to international teammates and former Leverkusen colleagues. According to Bayern Space on X, Sebastián Parrilla—Alonso's longtime Leverkusen lieutenant now working at Real Madrid—has recently made contact with Wirtz to probe for specifics about life at Liverpool. Jeremie Frimpong, another ex-Leverkusen man, is said to be part of these exchanges, whilst Alonso himself has maintained an open line of communication with the midfielder.

What distinguishes these interactions from routine pleasantries, the report suggests, is their substance and precision. Parrilla's inquiries have delved into the dressing room atmosphere, the club's broader environment both internally and externally, and which operational or footballing adjustments might be necessary. Within these circles, Wirtz is increasingly signalling that seeing Alonso take the reins would represent his ideal scenario.

The reactivation of contact through Alonso's assistant, coupled with the granular detail and apparent intentionality behind these conversations, indicates something far more deliberate and coordinated than nostalgic catch-ups. The signals point towards Alonso and his inner circle seriously exploring—if not already preparing—a potential transition into the Liverpool job.