All the big Fantasy Premier League talking points and team news before gameweek 36 with FPL expert Gianni Buttice
Gianni has only finished outside the top 100k twice in the past 13 seasons and is the best-selling author of FPL Diary, a guide to winning at Fantasy Football
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Seeing as it’s all an employment merry go round at the moment, Id like a change of job if Bayer want to give me a shot at the big time. £100k for the season will do me, it can’t be that hard if Spurs and United can get to a final.
Dan
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Xavi will be disappointed that the Bristol Rovers job has already been taken. Gutted for him
Anon
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Wilshere ruled out of Norwich job, path clear for Alonso to take on a real challenge!
Rob, Norwich
Image source, ReutersXabi Alonso is being heavily linked to the Real Madrid manager post, a role currently held by Italian Carlo Ancelotti.
The 65-year-old Italian left Everton for a second spell in charge of Real Madrid in June 2021, winning La Liga and the Champions League in his first season back at the Bernabeu.
Real won the Copa del Rey in 2022-23, then another La Liga-Champions League double in 2023-24.
This season they were knocked out of the Champions League quarter-finals by Arsenal and were beaten in the Copa del Rey final by Barcelona.
With four games left in La Liga, Real trail leaders Barca by four points - and the Spanish rivals face each other in El Clasico at Barcelona's Olympic Stadium this Sunday.
In December 2023, Ancelotti signed a contract extension until 2026 but has repeatedly been linked with the Brazil national team job.
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RE Alonso, Newport County job is up for grabs if he fancies some league 2 experience
Anon
Joe Rindl
BBC Sport
Love all these Get Involveds.
Do you have more stability as a Real Madrid manager, or as a Watford one?
It's probably safer to go to Real, right?
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Alonso to the vacant Huddersfield job – masterstroke from the back room boys!
Allan
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Re Alonso, the QPR job looks open....
QPR in Toronto
Joe Rindl
BBC Sport
Great question, David.
I reckon Alexander-Arnold would thrive on the right side of a 3-4-3 with less defensive responsibilities and more emphasis on creating.
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If Alonso goes to RM, adopts a Leverkusen based 3-4-3 where does the likes of Trent Arnold fit in?
David, Brighton, non Liverpool fan
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Xabi Alonso has heard about the managerial vacancy at Watford.
Asa
Image source, EPAXabi Alonso is one of the most sought-after managers in European football having led Bayer Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title.
The 43-year-old took charge in October 2022 before helping Leverkusen become German champions at the end of his first full season in charge, while they also lost 3-0 to Atalanta in the Europa League final.
At the start of the 2023-24 season he signed a contract extension to 2026. Despite being linked with the manager's job at his former clubs Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, Alonso said in March 2024 that he intended to complete his contract.
That has now changed with Bayern having clinched this season's Bundesliga title last weekend. Leverkusen will finish second in the league and reached the last 16 of this season's Champions League, where they were knocked out by Bayern.
Alonso ended his playing career at Bayern in 2017, after distinguished spells with Liverpool and Real Madrid.
The former Spain midfielder won the Champions League (2005) and FA Cup (2006) with Liverpool, before winning La Liga (2012) and another Champions League title (2014) with Real.
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Will be interesting to see Madrid switch to a 3-4-3 system with alonso, need to rebuild the squad otherwise you have issues with inbalance like what Man U are experiencing. It's a bad time to be a club with a top CB with them prowling around
Jack, Notts
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Steve @ 13:26 - Real Madrid a stepping stone to Liverpool?! Haha... that's the best one for ages!
Ian
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I think Alonso sees Real Madrid as a stepping stone to managing Liverpool, his spiritual home.
Steve, Lewes
Image source, Getty ImagesWhile it may not be the moment to talk about the future publicly for Xabi Alonso, the former Real Madrid midfielder is expected to join his old side as their new manager at the end of the season.
BBC Sport columnist and Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says that Alonso will be announced as Carlo Ancelotti's replacement at Madrid, but is unclear when that might happen.
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Xavi Alonso is waiting for Ange to leave so he can have the Spurs job.
Matt
Bayer Leverkusen
More from Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso: "For sure it's emotional, I have spoken with the players and staff and so many people that have helped me during this unbelievable, fantastic three years and now it is the moment to share it on Sunday with the fans in this stadium - where I have lived great emotions and where I have become what I am right now.
"I have to be thankful to everyone, from the fans, to the staff and the players. Football is about the moment and this moment is a good one for everyone. Let's enjoy it for the last moment as much as we have done until now.
"We can be happy and proud of what we have achieved during this time. I'm very thankful from the first day to the last one. You've got the announcement finally after chasing it."
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso: "This week the club and I have agreed that these two games will be my last two games as Bayer Leverkusen coach. We have been talking during this week that is always about the moment and now is the right moment to announce it.
"We have always had a good and direct communication and now that we have clarity, it is the right moment to say that for sure. It is a moment with mixed emotions but it is the moment to announce it.
"It's not the moment to talk about the future. Now we know, we want to have a proper farewell on Sunday for some players and for myself. We have to enjoy this moment with mixed emotions."
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There’s only really one place you could imagine Alonso going to. Real Madrid. Assuming of course Ancelotti goes to Brazil.
Geoff, Liverpool