Bayern Munich have started talks with Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso about succeeding Thomas Tuchel as head coach in the summer, according to Sky in Germany.
Alonso is the preferred candidate to replace Tuchel who will leave Bayern at the end of the season while they are also looking at Zinedine Zidane and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as alternatives.
It is believed that the Bavarians have received a positive signal from Alonso during the initial approaches and will cost Bayern between €15m and €25m (£12.8m and £21m) this summer as his fixed exit clause in his contract of around €15m (£12.8m) but that does not kick in until the summer of 2025.
Alonso has made significant contributions since joining Leverkusen in 2022, especially during a challenging period when the club was situated in the relegation zone.
Currently, they find themselves on the brink of clinching their first Bundesliga title, having surged 10 points ahead of defending champions Bayern.
He has also successfully guided Leverkusen to the last 16 of the Europa League and semi-finals of the German Cup.
Liverpool have also identified Alonso as an ideal candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp at the end of the current season.
Speaking about speculations linking him to the Liverpool and Bayern Munich jobs, the former Spain international said via Bild: “Maybe you have some questions about my future, but I’m sorry, I have nothing new to say. I wanted to say that beforehand.
“Right now I’m the (Leverkusen) coach. That’s for sure. I have nothing new to say for the future. We will see. It’s normal that there are questions, but it’s off topic now. Now is not the time for me to talk much about it.”
Alonso penned a new contract in August, extending his stay at the BayArena after an impressive debut season.
The agreement binds him to the club until 2026 and incorporates a substantial release clause set at £21 million.
This significant clause is a key factor contributing to Bayer Leverkusen’s Sporting Director, Simon Rolfes, maintaining a composed stance regarding the situation as the summer approaches.
“I remain calm and optimistic,” the club’s sporting director told Saarbruecker Zeitung. “The most important thing with managers is that they feel comfortable and have the feeling that they are in the right place.
“Xabi knows what he has at the club. He has often said that. That’s how he works with his team and his coaching team every day. There are many conjunctures in the world. Not all of them have to materialise.”
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