Liverpool's Arne Slot sack position clear as Xabi Alonso 'makes one key demand'

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Liverpool have no plans to sack head coach Arne Slot in the summer, but Xabi Alonso is ready to take over, according to reports. The under-fire Dutchman has been forced to mull over their most recent defeat, a 10th in the Premier League this season, but it has been said that the club's hierarchy remains committed him.

The Independent has reported that there are no plans to axe the 47-year-old as there are numerous mitigating factors behind their failed title defence. However, BILD Sport has reported that Alonso is willing to return to Anfield if an offer is made, but the Spaniard doesn't want a repeat of a negative experience, such as his short spell with Real Madrid , and would demand more influence over squad planning.

It has been said via the German outlet that contact has been maintained with the former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid head coach, who has been out of work since January, when he was sacked by Los Blancos. But for Alonso to make the return to management and to Liverpool , his demands would have to be met, which is said to feature more of a say in squad planning, which was rejected prior to succeeding Carlo Ancelotti in the Spanish capital.

Liverpool find themselves five points off the top four, a difficult position going into the penultimate month of the season. There is a genuine threat that the Reds will miss out on qualifying for the elite European competition, which will significantly impact their transfer spending and attraction for prospects.

There is the potential safety net of fifth place, a position they currently hold in the table, but England would have to remain in the top two of the coefficient rankings in order to open up that possibility - something that currently seems very likely.

Liverpool can still qualify automatically by winning the Champions League , if they finish outside the top four, but they need to overcome holders Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals and then either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid, in order to book their place in Budapest.

What is known in the coming months is that Mohamed Salah will be on his farewell tour. The Egyptian made the bombshell announcement on Tuesday evening that he will be leaving the Reds in the summer.

Reports suggest that the 33-year-old will leave on a free after coming to an agreement with Liverpool to end his two-year contract early.

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Salah was at the forefront of Liverpool's contract saga during their Premier League-winning campaign. The sideshow surrounding Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold - with the prospect of losing the trio on a free - had threatened to derail their season until the Egyptian stepped up to drive Liverpool to the summit.

The prospect of moving to the Saudi Pro League has always loomed, since they made a lucrative offer for the forward 12 months prior to his extension.

As a result of the announcement, Saudi clubs are circling again. As per the Independent, it isn't just Salah that they are after; sporting director Richard Hughes and the chief executive of football, Michael Edwards, are in demand.

It has been said that Saudi clubs are targeting the two hierarchical figures at Anfield for chief jobs in the Middle East. The news comes just a week after FSG eased their pursuit of creating a multi-club profile, which was headed by Edwards.