UEFA Champions League: Xabi Alonso 'could be one for Real Madrid' - Liverpool may face battle for boss says Lescott

Joleon Lescott thinks Real Madrid will be keeping a keen eye on the movements of Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso.

The former Liverpool midfielder has been heavily linked with a return to Anfield after .

However, Lescott has told TNT Sports that there will be tough competition to land the signature of Alonso, who has caught the eye by taking Leverkusen to the top of the Bundesliga - where they sit five points clear of Bayern Munich.

Looking at Liverpool’s approach to replacing Klopp, Lescott said: “I think you need to be careful with trying to replace the charisma and personality.

"I think they need to look forward and think of a different strategy and Xabi Alonso is definitely that. But I also believe he’s going to have options.

“He could be one for Real Madrid, you never know. There’s going to be a lot of teams trying to acquire Xabi Alonso because he’s done exceptionally well.”

Current Real manager Carlo Ancelotti recently signed a new two-year contract with the club.

Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand thinks Alonso could thrive under the pressure of being the manager of Liverpool.

“We’ve seen it at other clubs where it’s difficult [to] follow people who’ve been so successful and revered at the football club," he said.

“Xabi Alonso knows the landscape of Liverpool, but also he’s been at massive clubs throughout his career.

“He knows what these clubs need and what the desires and the passion is like behind the scenes."

Alonso’s first managerial job was with Real Sociedad B, who he won promotion with, only for the club to be relegated the next season.

After leaving his role at the end of that season, Alonso’s next opportunity came at Leverkusen where his profile has sky-rocketed.

“He’s playing a really, really attractive brand of football and he’s been successful at the same time,” Ferdinand said.

Speaking about how Alonso will be dealing with his name cropping up on the managerial rumour mill, Ferdinand added, “He’s quite a professional guy, it seems.

“He doesn’t want to talk too much about what’s the future. He wants the here and now. Get the job done in Germany, win the Bundesliga and then he can sit and relax and make a decision on a sun-lounger somewhere in the world.”

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