Liverpool are expecting to approach Xabi Alonso next month as they step up their attempts to find a replacement for Jurgen Klopp, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

However, the Reds won’t have things all their own way, with Romano claiming that Bayern Munich will also make a concerted effort to appoint the 42-year-old:

“I’m sure that Liverpool will fight until the end to get Xabi Alonso. I see Liverpool and Bayern really fighting for the Spanish manager. It’s going to be an interesting one in the upcoming weeks and months.”

“Trust me, Liverpool and Bayern will really try their best, also Bayern are already pushing for that. So, it’s going to be a crazy battle I think in April.”

Liverpool have now appointed a sporting director

It has been confirmed by the club that Richard Hughes will become the club’s next sporting director at the end of the season.

The Reds were keen to add key men to the club’s hierarchy before deciding to go after their next manager and, with Hughes now in place, it allows them to make an approach for Alonso.

Alonso is unlikely to be the only manager pursued by the club

Although the Bayer Leverkusen head coach is the red-hot favourite to replace Klopp in the Anfield dugout, it is likely that Hughes and FSG’s Head of Football Operations Michael Edwards will interview alternatives too.

Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim is known to be a manager who is well-liked, while Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi is also believed to be on the shortlist of candidates.

The Italian has been linked with Chelsea and Manchester United in recent months, while Amorim is said to be on the former’s list of options to replace Mauricio Pochettino as well. It appears that no matter which manager Liverpool go after, they will have to fend off rival teams.