Liverpool Bombshell Drops After Xabi Alonso Exit from Real Madrid

David Ornstein has dropped an interesting update on Liverpool’s January transfer window plans, while Xabi Alonso is also linked with the club following his Real Madrid exit.

Less than 24 hours after Real Madrid lost 3-2 against Barcelona in the Supercopa de España, Alonso’s exit was confirmed.

In a statement posted to their website, Real confirmed that they had reached a “mutual agreement” with Alonso before later confirming that reserve team manager and former Los Blancos right-back Alvaro Arbeloa would be taking over.

Since then, Alonso has been linked with both Manchester United and Liverpool, for whom he made 210 appearances as a player.

Of course, Arne Slot’s position was called into question earlier in the season, but talk of a Liverpool exit has cooled in recent months with the side unbeaten in 11 matches.

Nonetheless, Alonso will remain linked with a return to Anfield as long as he is without a managerial role, with the Spaniard priced at 1/1 to become the next permanent manager of the Premier League champions by talkSPORT Bet.

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Xabi Alonso has been linked with the Liverpool job (Credit:Getty)

If Liverpool’s results take another negative turn, Alonso may be a name uttered by the Anfield faithful.

And given the fact that Liverpool are currently fourth in the Premier League - 14 points behind league leaders Arsenal – many may have expected some movement in the January transfer window.

However, as reported by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, this may not be the case.

In the outlet’s ‘Transfer DealSheet’, Ornstein claimed that Liverpool “do not intend to sign cover” for the injured Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leoni, and Conor Bradley, with Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, and Dominik Szoboszlai likely to fill in in defence when required.

The journalist also issued an update on the future of soon-to-be-out-of-contract defender Ibrahima Konate.

Ibrahima Konate's contract is set to expire (Credit:Getty)

“Liverpool seem to be among those keeping their powder dry for the next market, when Ibrahima Konate is on track to exit due to his contract expiring,” Ornstein wrote.

“There has been no breakthrough on new terms.”

Konate is now free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs.

Virgil van Dijk and Gomez’s contracts are also set to expire in June of 2027, meaning the defence could be an area of focus in the coming transfer windows.

Mohamed Salah, who is currently at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Egypt, is also expected to remain at Anfield for the duration of the 2025/26 campaign.

Salah’s contract also runs out at the end of the 2026/27 campaign, and him staying at the club until then is still a real possibility, as is an exit in 2026.