The five Bayer Leverkusen stars Xabi Alonso could sign for Liverpool

Tom Weber

• Updated: 30 Jan 2024 19:37 GMT
• 5 min read

Xabi Alonso is the favourite to replace Jurgen Klopp in the Liverpool dugout.

The German has announced that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season and this will naturally require the Reds to bring in a fresh face. But there is something more than just a mere coaching change brewing at Anfield.

Klopp's departure will mark the end of an era. Captain Virgil van Dijk has already hinted that he may not be part of the post-Klopp era and sporting director Jorg Schmadtke will also need replacing.

There is a transfer revolution in the offing and the new coach will have the opportunity to shape the Liverpool team in his image. Former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso is the favourite for the job as he is currently doing brilliantly with Bayer Leverkusen, so here are five Werkself stars he could bring with him to Merseyside.

Florian Wirtz (20, attacking midfielder)

The biggest prospect to come out of Bayer Leverkusen since Kai Havertz, Florian Wirtz may already be a better player than his predecessor. Despite an ACL injury robbing him of a year of his still-young career, the 20-year-old is arguably even better than he was before his spell on the sidelines.

Alonso has given Wirtz the freedom to be a creative monster for Leverkusen and the youngster has seen the interest in his services skyrocket, with everybody from Bayern Munich to Real Madrid, Barcelona and Man City linked with him. Liverpool are also said to be keeping an eye on his development.

Wirtz has notched eight goals and 12 assists in 26 games so far this term and has reportedly had a price tag north of €130 million slapped on his head. He won't come cheap, but the youngster could become the heartbeat of Liverpool's side for the next decade.

Victor Boniface (23, striker)

Darwin Nunez has so far had an up-and-down campaign. While his record of 11 goals and 10 assists is nothing to scoff at, the Uruguayan is still missing too many big chances to be truly reliable and Reds fans would probably prefer someone more clinical up top.

Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface could be just that player. While Nunez is, to put it bluntly, incompetent in front of goal, Boniface is profligate; rather than missing big chances, the Nigerian is at times a bit too trigger-happy. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old is a spectacular and unique player.

Boniface is a tricky winger at heart stuck in the body of a towering number nine. The striker has notched 16 goals and eight assists in 23 games so far and was one of Europe's most scintillating players before being sidelined by injury. His fitness record is really the only concern as the 23-year-old has already suffered two ACL injuries in his still-young career. Thankfully, his current ailment is not as bad and he will be back in April.

Jeremie Frimpong (23, right-back)

It will be interesting to see how Liverpool's new coach will utilise Trent Alexander-Arnold. If Alonso were to come in, it would not be a shock to see Trent played in midfield full-time, which could tempt the Reds into signing a more high-profile right-back despite the admirable showings of Conor Bradley this term.

Jeremie Frimpong has regularly been linked with a switch to the Premier League, including to Liverpool, and he would certainly be an intriguing option. The Dutchman suffers from the same shortcomings as Trent as he is deadly going forward but not always convincing defensively.

The 23-year-old has recorded a spectacular seven goals and 10 assists in 25 games this term and his release clause makes him a particularly attractive option for the summer. The Dutchman will be available for €40m and the expectation is that he will leave after already having been keen on a move in 2023.

Odilon Kossounou (23, centre-back)

Given Van Dijk's recent comments, Liverpool need to start looking for a potential successor to the club captain and Odilon Kossounou could be just the man for the job. The Burkina Faso international is enjoying a brilliant season and his presence was sorely missed in Leverkusen's recent games while he was away at AFCON.

What makes Kossounou so interesting is that he has become something of a playmaker from centre-back under Xabi Alonso. The 23-year-old is a really progressive defender who is not afraid to carry the ball into midfield and FootballTransfers recently explained that he would be a perfect replacement for Van Dijk.

Piero Hincapie (22, centre-back/left-back)

The final player on our list is one who has been repeatedly linked with a switch to Anfield, though little in the way of a concrete approach has thus far materialised. Piero Hincapie is a player who will be interesting to Europe's elite in the summer as he is not getting the game time a player of his quality and potential deserves.

A versatile defender who can feature at left-back and centrally, the Ecuador international could be a potential long-term successor to Van Dijk or Andy Robertson. The 22-year-old is regarded as one of the biggest prospects in European football and it seems likely that he will depart Leverkusen in the summer.