14 Nov 2015

Shock Return: Liverpool keen to sign 'fantastic' €144k-a-week World Cup-winner. Klopp to 'assess' possibility

In the summer of 2012, Xabi Alonso admitted that he 'misses' Anfield, and hinted that if the right 'circumstances' arose, a return to Liverpool 'could be a possibility' in the future. Since then, Alonso has been regularly linked with a return to Liverpool, and like clockwork, the rumour is ramping up again this week.

According to Italian newspaper Tutto Mercato today:

* Liverpool will 'assess' the possibility of re-signing Alonso at the end of the season.

* The Reds will have to compete with the possibility of lucrative moves to Qatar or the MLS.

Liverpool fans have a tendency to romanticise Alonso's possible return without considering the reality.

The Spaniard is a bona-fide world class midfielder with peerless experience, but I'd hate to see him return to Anfield and spend most of his time on the bench (due to squad rotation/preference for younger players etc).

Having said that, when Andrea Pirlo joined Juventus at the age of 32, he totally transformed the team, and left the club four years later with six trophies, including 4 consecutive league titles.

Is Alonso capable of having a similar impact at Liverpool? it's possible, but either way, I would always have him in the team ahead of Allen, Milner, and Can. The question is, will FSG sanction a move for a player approaching his mid-30s? Reds legend Dietmar Hamann certainly hopes so, but he's not sure it will happen. Last season, he tweeted:

"I'd love to see Xabi Alonso back at Anfield. He's a pleasure to watch, but I'm not sure whether there is any truth in it. I can't really see it happening"

Signing Alonso is akin to signing players of the calibre of Andrea Pirlo and Xavi in the squad, and chances like that don't come around too often. The Spaniard would also be a great role model for the club's young players. Jordan Rossiter, for example, who has already hailed Alonso as one of his footballing idols:

“Growing up, I always admired Xabi Alonso. His passing range, his composure on the ball – he’s someone I looked up to".

If you're going to have a role model, then Alonso - reportedly on €144k-a-week at Bayern Munich - is a great choice, and as Rossiter notes, the Spaniard's passing range, and composure on the ball were (and are) a joy to behold.

Steven Gerrard is also currently linked with a return to Anfield, and it's conceivable that fans may see both Gerrard and Alonso back at Anfield in the near future. It's doubtful they'll ever share the same pitch again, though, but we can dream...

On a free transfer, I see absolutely no risk to this deal, but is Alonso capable of thriving within Klopp's intense pressing system?



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