The verbal agreement Liverpool reportedly has with Xabi Alonso for next season

The future of Xabi Alonso might be decided much sooner than anyone anticipated. Following his departure from Real Madrid in early 2026, the Spanish tactician is already positioned to return to the forefront of European football with a high-stakes project.

According to explosive reports circulating in both England and Spain, the current Spanish national team manager has a verbal agreement in place with Liverpool FC to become the next head coach at Anfield. However, this blockbuster move remains strictly contingent on the fate of the club’s current leadership.

The managerial seat at Anfield is currently occupied by Arne Slot, who continues to lead the Liverpool project. Despite his ongoing work, the club’s hierarchy is reportedly evaluating all possible scenarios as the season reaches its climax.

Insiders suggest that Slot’s continuity hinges almost entirely on the team’s performance in the UEFA Champions League. The mandate is clear: if Liverpool fails to secure the continental trophy, the board may decide to trigger a change in direction. In that specific scenario, the verbal pact with Xabi Alonso would be immediately activated to usher in a new era on Merseyside.

For the Spanish coach, the prospect of managing Liverpool carries a profound emotional weight. Alonso is not just a high-level candidate; he is a club icon. During his playing days, he donned the famous red shirt and was a protagonist in some of the most historic moments in the club's modern era—most notably the miracle of Istanbul in 2005.

This deep-rooted connection has earned him unparalleled respect from the Kop and the Liverpool board alike. The proposed deal currently on the table is rumored to be a three-year contract, set to begin this coming June should the technical transition be finalized.

Xabi Alonso’s stock has never been higher. Since his revolutionary tenure at Bayer Leverkusen, where he dismantled the Bundesliga hierarchy, he has been at the top of the shortlist for every major European powerhouse. His name has frequently been linked with vacancies at Real Madrid and FC Bayern Munich, yet the lure of the Premier League and his former home seems to be the strongest pull.

Returning to Anfield would represent a full-circle moment for Alonso. It would mean transitioning from a beloved midfield general to the strategic mastermind tasked with maintaining Liverpool’s status at the summit of world football.

While the verbal agreement exists, the final decision rests on the results of the next few months. Liverpool fans find themselves in a complex position: supporting Arne Slot in his quest for European glory while knowing that a slip-up could pave the way for the return of one of their favorite sons.

As the June deadline approaches, the "Xabi Alonso Watch" is officially on. Whether he remains with the national team or makes the leap back to club football, his next move will undoubtedly shift the balance of power in the coaching world.