What needs to happen now after positive talks between Liverpool and Xabi Alonso?

Two journalists in the last 24 hours have reported that Liverpool and Xabi Alonso are moving closer to a 2024 reunion.

Jurgen Klopp won the Carabao Cup trophy on Sunday but he will leave the club at the end of the season with FSG hard at work making arrangements for his successor.

With each passing day, it seems more and more as though Xabi Alonso will be the next manager of Liverpool Football Club.

The two latest claims on his future are:

• Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna reports that "Xabi Alonso is leaning in favour of Liverpool FC." He claims that Liverpool have had "new positive contacts" with Alonso.
•  Journalist Sacha Tavolieri reports similarly exciting news as he says Alonso is "closer and closer" to Liverpool after " several talks between his entourage and LFC board."
  

What needs to happen for Alonso to join Liverpool after positive new talks?

If talks between the Liverpool board and Xabi Alonso's entourage are truly progressing well, then things should take shape in due course. Klopp told the owners of his desire to leave in November so they have had a lot of time to approach Alonso and go through the motions.

However, with just three months remaining of the season, time is beginning to slip away from Liverpool and they will want to make their new appointment with enough time to begin preparations for pre-season and the 2024/45 season.

An agreement needs to be reached between Alonso and Liverpool over a contract but more importantly, FSG will be holding a lot of discussions with him and his representatives to ensure they share the same vision for the club.

Given Bayer Leverkusen are eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table, there is confidence in Alonso's abilities as a manager especially given he employs similar tactics to Klopp with a reliance on gegenpressing.

What about Bayern Munich's interest?

Bayern Munich sporting director Christopher Freund recently refused to comment on interest in Alonso, telling reporters on Sunday: "That's not a topic for us now. We now all have to work together to ensure that we spend three more nice and successful months together with Tuchel."

Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg did claim last week that Alonso currently prefers to move to Bayern Munich over Liverpool.

Since then, however, reports now indicate that Alonso would actually rather return to Anfield over the Allianz Arena.

Catch up on the latest Xabi Alonso news by reading the posts below.