Manchester City is reportedly facing competition from Real Madrid for Xabi Alonso, with Bayer Leverkusen considering their options as a result. Alonso led Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title last season and stayed with the club after being linked with a return to Liverpool. City is eyeing Alonso as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola, but Real Madrid may also be interested in the Spaniard as a replacement for Carlo Ancelotti. Alonso is expected to depart Leverkusen next summer, with City and Real Madrid both showing interest in acquiring his services.
West Ham has indicated that they have no immediate plans to sack manager Julen Lopetegui despite a poor start to the season leaving the team in 15th place in the Premier League table. The club’s board is aware that Lopetegui is implementing a new style of play and has brought in multiple new signings, but there is deep concern about the team’s early results. Lopetegui’s position may be reviewed if there is no improvement before Christmas, with the upcoming game against Manchester United being a critical test for the manager.
Manchester City will be holding an emergency meeting with other Premier League clubs to discuss the outcome of their associated-party arbitration ruling. The league has been consulting with financial and legal advisory groups regarding shareholder loan regulations, and City’s legal chief has urged against a knee-jerk reaction that could lead to further legal proceedings. The clubs will be discussing next steps to tighten the league’s rules, with the ruling requiring loans from club shareholders to undergo fair market tests within the APT rules.
Plans are underway for a La Liga game to be played in the United States between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. The match is set to take place at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on December 22, pending approval from FIFA, UEFA, and the Spanish FA. This would be the first La Liga match to be played on foreign soil and is part of La Liga’s president Javier Tebas’s desire to expand the league’s reach internationally. Previous attempts to hold La Liga fixtures in the US were unsuccessful, but there is more optimism in the post-Rubiales era that the Spanish FA would support such initiatives.
The Mirror reports that Xabi Alonso has snubbed a return to Liverpool and decided to stay at Bayer Leverkusen for at least one more season. However, it is expected that he will depart the club next summer, with Manchester City and Real Madrid showing interest in his services. City is looking at potential candidates should Guardiola leave at the end of the season, while Real Madrid could consider Alonso as a replacement for Carlo Ancelotti, who signed a contract extension earlier this year. Leverkusen is preparing for Alonso’s departure and will likely see interest from top European clubs.
West Ham is standing by Julen Lopetegui despite concerns over the team’s poor start to the season. The club’s board recognizes the challenges Lopetegui faces in implementing a new style of play and integrating new signings. However, there is deep concern about the team’s early results, and Lopetegui’s position may be reviewed if there is no improvement before Christmas. The upcoming game against Manchester United will be crucial for Lopetegui, who needs results to pick up before the international break next month. The team will be without Mohammed Kudus for upcoming fixtures following his red card against Tottenham.
