Liverpool's Klopp plan takes shape as Alonso alternative makes stance clear

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Xabi Alonso remains the favourite for the Liverpool job (Image: Jörg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images)
Xabi Alonso remains the favourite for the Liverpool job (Image: Jörg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images)

Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi would reject the opportunity to become Liverpool's next manager if presented to him.

Inzaghi, 47, is one of the most highly rated coaches in Europe after guiding Inter to last year's Champions League final and this season has them a whopping 15 points clear at the top of Serie A. The Italian's heroics have earned him admirers at Liverpool, with Anfield chiefs still searching for a successor to Jurgen Klopp.

Klopp announced in January that he'll be leaving Merseyside at the end of the campaign, although top-ranking Liverpool executives were informed of his bombshell decision two months prior. Former Reds midfielder and current Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is the favourite to succeed Klopp but doubts remain over the Spaniard's willingness to leave his current post, while Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich are also keen on battling Liverpool for his signature.

Inzaghi is also a wanted man, having proven his managerial credentials over an impressive five-year spell with Lazio which came to an end in 2021. That's led to him being shortlisted by both Liverpool and Barcelona but it appears that the brother of Italy icon Filippo Inzaghi wouldn't be interested if either club were to make him an offer.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Simone is well aware of the interest from across Europe but wants to stay in Milan for both personal and sporting reasons. His family are settled in the city and Inzaghi believes that Inter have the chance to dominate Italian football given their current advantage over rivals AC Milan, Juventus and reigning champions Napoli.

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The Nerazzurri have already lined up two signings ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, namely Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski and Porto striker Mehdi Taremi. Each player will arrive on a free transfer, a strategy which Inter have enjoyed success with in recent years.

Inzaghi's contract is due to expire at the end of next season but he and San Siro bigwigs are in talks to extend his deal until 2027. With 11 league games to go, it would take a monumental collapse for Inter not to win their second Italian title in the space of four seasons.

Your turn! Who should Liverpool appoint if Xabi Alonso is unavailable? Join the debate in the comments section.

Liverpool's Klopp plan takes shape as Alonso alternative makes stance clearSimone Inzaghi doesn't want to leave Inter Milan (Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The Nerazzurri are also still in the Champions League, hoping to go one better than last season after Inzaghi orchestrated a 1-0 win at home to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their round-of-16 clash. Earlier this week, ex-Arsenal and Barcelona forward Thierry Henry heaped praise on the three-time Coppa Italia winner during a segment on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football.

"I've been following him for a very long time, since his Lazio days," Henry revealed. "He was at one point known as a guy who if you meet him in a cup game, you're in trouble.

"As we saw with Manchester City struggling against his Inter in that Champions League final with their 3-5-2. What I like is with Inzaghi is that he plays with two centre forwards."

Nathan Ridley

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