‘As I understand it…’ – David Ornstein drops Xabi Alonso update as Liverpool stance outlined
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May 12th 2026, 7:31 Images via Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images and The Athletic FC Podcast David Ornstein has issued an update on whether Liverpool are likely to move for Xabi Alonso this summer, amid reports that the 44-year-old is wanted by Chelsea.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYAlthough Frank Leboeuf confidently declared over the weekend that he thinks the Spaniard will be in charge at Anfield next season, several trusted reporters (including James Pearce and Fabrizio Romano) have indicated that FSG are more likely to stick with Arne Slot than appoint the former Reds midfielder.According to The Athletic, Chelsea are now exploring a potential deal to hire the 2010 World Cup winner, who’s believe to be open to the possibility of working at Stamford Bridge.(Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)Ornstein: Alonso ‘is not under consideration’ at LiverpoolSpeaking on NBC Sports on Monday evening, Ornstein reiterated his freshly-published reports on Alonso, whilst stating that the former Real Madrid boss isn’t in Liverpool’s thinking at present.He declared: “Within the last hour, I have reported that Chelsea are exploring a deal to appoint Xabi Alonso as their next head coach.
“Talking of Xabi Alonso, he has for some time now – years – been heavily linked with the Liverpool head coach position post Jurgen Klopp, but it went to Arne Slot. “Even now, with many fans clamouring for him to return to Anfield where he had such a successful playing career, but my information is that Xabi Alonso is not under consideration at Liverpool at all, and that Liverpool fully intend to go into next season with Arne Slot as their head coach.” Want more Empire of the Kop coverage?
We don’t want Liverpool to go down the same road as the Blues in terms of churning through head coaches with indecent haste, but the thought of Alonso taking charge of the west Londoners while Slot is still labouring on Merseyside is sobering. Fate might offer the Anfield hierarchy a second chance on Alonso if Chelsea’s pursuit of him were to fail.