World's 10 most expensive managers as Liverpool learn record fee for Xabi Alonso

Liverpool might have to fork out a world-record fee for a manager if Xabi Alonso is to replace Jurgen Klopp this summer.

With the former midfielder under contract at Bayer Leverkusen until the summer of 2026, the Bundesliga leaders are demanding a fee of more than £20m to let him go.

And it could end up costing more than the €25m Bayern Munich paid to bring in Julian Nagelsmann from RB Leipzig in 2021.

Transfer fees for managers remain a relatively new concept - but they are going to become more popular and the amounts will rise further. Here are the top 10 fees biggest paid up until now - with Jose Mourinho and Brendan Rodgers both featuring twice and Chelsea occupying four spots.

8= Maurizio Sarri - £5m

Napoli to Chelsea, July 2018

Chelsea splashed out £5m on the ill-fitting, chain-smoking Italian who did not last very long as fans became fed up of his death by a thousand passes style of play. Currently in charge of Lazio following a stint at Juventus.

8= Ronald Koeman - £5m

Southampton to Everton, June 2016

Goodison Park has seen several big names in the dugout but few have worked out. The Dutch playing legend arrived from Saints but oversaw 18 months of mediocrity before being sacked.

8= Brendan Rodgers - £5m

Swansea to Liverpool, June 2012

A first appearance on the list for the man now back at Celtic. He lasted 166 games and almost won a first Premier League title at Anfield.

7. Jose Mourinho - £5.2m

Porto to Chelsea, June 2004

Mourinho cost a healthy sum when Chelsea hired him the first time around in the summer of 2004, as part of Roman Abramovich’s initial wave of huge investment.

6. Jose Mourinho - £6.9m

Inter to Real Madrid, May 2010

Back so soon! The Spanish giants stumped up a decent fee to bring the Portuguese in from Inter after taking the Nerazzurri to the Champions League - ironically winning the final at the Santiago Bernabeu. He won one league title but came up against Pep Guardiola's Barcelona at their peak.

5. Ruben Amorim - £8.6m

Braga to Sporting Lisbon, March 2020

Another name being talked up as a potential Klopp replacement, the highly-rated Amorim cost Sporting a hefty fee four years ago but he is still in the job - for now - with several of Europe’s giants casting admiring glances in his direction.

4. Brendan Rodgers - £8.8m

Celtic to Leicester, February 2019

Northern Irishman left Glasgow for the Foxes and won an FA Cup only for things to turn pear-shaped as he departed midway through a season that would see the 2016 Premier League winners relegated from the top flight.

3. Andre Villas-Boas - £13.3m

Porto to Chelsea, June 2011

The Portuguese arrived in West London with a big reputation but was binned after less than a season, which concluded with interim replacement Roberto di Matteo winning their first Champions League.

2. Graham Potter - £21.5m

Brighton to Chelsea, September 2022

Brighton cashed in as their head coach moved to Stamford Bridge as a replacement for Champions League winner Thomas Tuchel - only to last little more than half a season before being unceremoniously sacked.

1. Julian Nagelsmann - £21.7m

RB Leipzig to Bayern Munich, April 2021

The Bavarians paid a fee of €25m to bring the now Germany head coach in from Bundesliga rivals Leipzig - only for him to depart after two years amid rows with players and a growing belief from the club's top brass that it was too big a job for the wunderkind coach after all.