Today’s Premier League news includes Xabi Alonso being linked with the Tottenham Hotspur job, James Milner is reportedly close to joining Brighton and Sam Allardyce has been announced as the new Leeds United manager.
Premier League news: Xabi Alonso to Spurs
The former Liverpool player, Xabi Alonso, has been linked with the vacant managerial position at Tottenham Hotspur. Since retiring from playing, Alonso has coached Real Sociedad B and is now the manager at Bayer Leverkusen.
According to the De Telegraaf, Alonso is the leading candidate for the job ahead of Feyenoord coach Arne Slot.
Although he is not the most experienced manager, Alonso does have a very good record at Leverkusen. In 22 games he has won 13, drawn four and lost five. Alonso has also guided the German side into the semi-finals of the Europa League, where they will face AS Roma.
Alonso has experience in English soccer as a player, with Liverpool he made 210 appearances. He won the Champions League and the FA Cup with the Reds.
Julian Nagelsmann was an early favourite for the job but the Telegraph has reported that “Tottenham’s talks with Julian Nagelsmann have hit a stumbling block over the uncertainty surrounding the sporting director role to work with the next managerial appointment.”
Premier League news: James Milner to Brighton
James Milner’s longevity in the Premier League is set to continue with a move to Brighton next season. The Seagulls have integrated experienced players such as Danny Welbeck and Adam Lallana into their side, so Milner will be in good company.
Sky Sports has reported that “Brighton’s move to land James Milner from Liverpool as a free agent is understood to be ‘all but done’ as they work to tie up their transfer business early.”
The former England international made his Premier League debut in 2002 for Leeds and he has gone on to make 614 appearances in the competition. Milner is not far from the all-time record appearance-maker in the Premier League which is currently Gareth Barry who featured in 652 games.
Brighton is a very well-run club and this has been shown with the club’s appointment of Roberto De Zerbi to replace Graham Potter has worked out very well. The Seagulls were unlucky not to beat Manchester United in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. However, they are eighth in the Premier League, so are in with a chance for qualifying for Europe next season.
Premier League news: Sam Allardyce joins Leeds
Leeds United have officially announced that “The remaining four games of the season will be overseen by experienced head coach Sam Allardyce.”
Allardyce is known for being a master at saving teams from relegation, he did so with Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Everton. However, he could not save West Bromwich Albion from going down to the Championship in his last job.
Leeds need Allardyce right now but it does mark a remarkable turn of events for a club that had Marcelo Bielsa as their manager last season. Since Bielsa, they have had Jesse Marsch, Michael Skubala and Javi Gracia all have a go in the dugout with limited success.