Could former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso succeed Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool?

Jurgen Klopp's shock Liverpool exit announcement will only intensify speculation former midfielder Xabi Alonso will replace him at Anfield.

The 42-year-old Spaniard, who helped Liverpool win the Champions League during five successful years there, was immediately installed by bookmakers as the favourite to succeed Klopp.

Alonso is enjoying an exceptional season in charge of German club Bayer Leverkusen, who remain unbeaten in the 18 Bundesliga games and enjoy a four-point lead over Bayern Munich at the top.

Late last year, Alonso was being linked with three of his former clubs - Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich - amid rumours of a release clause in his Leverkusen contract.

That suggested Alonso could walk away from Leverkusen this year if any of the trio came knocking.

Leverkusen chief executive Fernando Carro denied the existence of such a clause but did admit Alonso could still leave.

Asked whether the exit clause existed in November, Carro said: 'No, but you don't need a clause. We have a very, very good relationship with Xabi and he knows we are a serious club.

'And at the end of the day, we're not going to force someone to stay if he doesn't want to stay.

'We want him to feel so happy and so good with us that he really only wants to stay - and this is our objective.

'There is nothing on paper [that would allow Alonso to leave for a former club]. But sometimes agreements that are not on paper are agreements as well.

'We know if he needs to do a move in the future we will be able to talk with each other.

'And I hope he will not need to do this because he will stay and be happy at Leverkusen.'

But the Klopp news will only heighten speculation that Alonso could move this summer and Carro's remarks suggest Leverkusen