Man City eye Alonso but face competition – Paper Round

Manchester City reportedly face competition from Real Madrid for Xabi Alonso, with Bayer Leverkusen weighing up their own options as a result.

Alonso, 42, led Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title last season, and stayed with the German club after being heavily linked with Liverpool. Now City are lining the Spaniard up should Pep Guardiola leave in the summer, but Real Madrid could also look to make Alonso the successor to Carlo Ancelotti.

The Mirror writes: “Alonso snubbed the chance to return to Anfield, opting to stay at Leverkusen for at least one more season. The 2024-25 campaign is expected to be his last, however, as Sky Germany report that chiefs at the Bay Arena are preparing for his departure next summer.

That’s because Premier League champions City are firmly interested alongside current kings of Europe and Spain Real Madrid, who Alonso left Liverpool for in 2009. City are being forced to assess potential candidates as Guardiola’s contract expires at the end of this season.

“Liverpool won’t be in the race after hiring Arne Slot but Madrid could opt to part ways with Carlo Ancelotti and put themselves in the market for a new boss next summer. The legendary manager signed a new contract until 2026 earlier this year but Real are known for being ruthless and could sense an opportunity with Alonso which is too good to turn down.”

Lopetegui safe for now

West Ham have no immediate plans to sack Julen Lopetegui despite a poor start leaving the Hammers 15th in the Premier League table after eight games.

After just two wins and two draws, it has been the manner of their defeats – most recently a 4-1 loss to Tottenham on Saturday – that have concerned some fans amid fears the club have gone backwards since David Moyes left.

The Guardian writes: “The club’s board do not have a history of making knee-jerk decisions and there is a recognition that the Spaniard is attempting to implement a new style of play while he beds in 10 summer signings. Equally, there is deep concern about early results under Lopetegui, who is under pressure before the home game against Manchester United this Sunday, and his position could be reviewed if there is no improvement before Christmas.

“The former Wolves manager needs results to pick up before the international break next month. West Ham visit Nottingham Forest and host Everton after facing United. They face being without Mohammed Kudus for those fixtures after his petulant red card against Spurs. Kudus left three Spurs players on the floor and there is the prospect of the Football Association banning him for more than three games. The Ghanaian was sent off for violent conduct after an initial clash with Micky van de Ven but he also shoved the defender and Pape Matar Sarr in the face and knocked over Richarlison.”

Premier League meeting imminent

Away from the pitch, Manchester City will speak with their fellow Premier League clubs at an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the outcome of their associated-party arbitration ruling.

The Telegraph writes: “England’s top tier had delayed initial plans to gather the clubs last Thursday as it was still in the process of speaking to financial and legal advisory groups regarding shareholder loan regulations.

“The mood in some club boardrooms is febrile after City’s legal chief emailed the other 19 clubs to urge against a “knee-jerk reaction” that “would be likely to lead to further legal proceedings with further legal costs”.

“The league, however, is now ready to discuss next steps with the clubs around tightening its rules. City tabled at least 20 different allegations in its landmark arbitration claim that the league’s associated-party transaction (APT) rules were “discriminatory”.

“The most significant outcome as far as City’s rivals are concerned is the subsequent ruling that loans from club shareholders should face fair market tests within the APT rules.”

La Liga to Miami?

Away from Europe, there are plans for a La Liga game to be played in the United States between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. The Daily Mail reports that the match on December 22 is set to take place at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

The switch will need the green light from FIFA, UEFA and the Spanish FA, and if accepted it would be the first La Liga match to take place on foreign soil.

The Daily Mail writes: “Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, has made no secret of wanting to play a league fixture in the US for some time.

“The Spanish FA has previously opposed the idea of taking a competitive fixture abroad. La Liga made two failed attempts in 2019 to play one of its fixtures on US soil but they were both while Luis Rubiales was Spanish FA president.

“La Liga tried without success to move Girona v Barcelona, and subsequently Villarreal v Atletico Madrid away from Spain. In the post-Rubiales era there is more optimism that La Liga would be backed by Spain’s national association.”