When it became apparent that Xabi Alonso would not be on his way back to Anfield this summer – the Spaniard confirming his commitment to Bundesliga champions-in-waiting Bayer Leverkusen – the news would have sent a shiver down the spine of all those who support clubs who’s manager has also been linked with the soon-to-be vacant Liverpool job.
Speculation surrounding the future of Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi, for instance, went into overdrive after Alonso’s statement. Ditto Ruben Amorim at Sporting Lisbon.
HITC understands that Amorim is emerging as Liverpool’s latest top choice, with a £13 million release clause in his Sporting contract.
And when Alessandro Canovi was asked himself about the future of another of Europe’s most highly-rated young tacticians, the topic of Liverpool was always likely to arise at some point.
Xabi Alonso will not be Liverpool’s next manager
Thiago Motta’s contract at Serie A high-flyers Bologna expires at the end of the current campaign. And as long as an extension is not yet rubber-stamped, fears will be growing amongst supporters of a club breathing in rarefied air in the Champions League spots.
“At this moment, the only reality is that Motta has a contract expiring with Bologna,” Canovi tells Tuttomercatoweb of his 41-year-old client, the former Barcelona, Inter Milan and PSG ace who has Bologna sitting fourth and five points ahead of Roma.
“I can’t say (he will stay), because I don’t have negotiations with anyone. You can’t talk about things that aren’t in place.
“The confirmation of Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen has opened up several important candidacies for Liverpool and Bayern Munich. Just as (with) Barcelona. They are three interesting and very coveted benches now.”
Motta’s high-pressing, fast-paced football is likely to appeal to a Liverpool fanbase who quickly embraced Jurgen Klopp due to his similar approach to the ‘beautiful game’. Motta’s ability to get the best out of the players at his disposal – turning good players into great ones – is also reminiscent of the work Amorim and Alonso have done at Sporting and Leverkusen, both clubs sitting top of the table and awaiting the title.
Bologna set for Champions League qualification
“The argument is simple,” Canovi adds, believing that his client remains underrated amongst the majority. “One doesn’t realize what he is doing at Bologna today.
“Motta’s priority really isn’t his future. The real interest is Bologna. There is an incredible environment and he feels the weight of this incredible situation. It’s a difficult moment to describe what we experience in the city. And it’s difficult to think of anything else, really.”
Bologna have never before featured in the Champions League but that should change soon enough.
HITC, meanwhile, understands that Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann – who’s contract also expires in a matter of months – remains on Liverpool’s radar too.
Klopp’s Liverpool can return to the top of the Premier League by beating Sheffield United tonight.
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