Bayern Munich have Engaged In Constructive Discussions With Xabi Alonso, Who Has Also been Linked With Liverpool.
Bayern Munich have reportedly initiated discussions with Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso regarding the possibility of him replacing Thomas Tuchel this summer. The Bavarians announced two weeks ago their decision to part ways with Tuchel at the end of the season following a disappointing 2023-24 campaign.
Tuchel took over as Bayern boss in March 2023 following the dismissal of Julian Nagelsmann. Despite guiding the club to their 11th successive Bundesliga title last season, the German giants are now facing the prospect of ending the current season without any silverware for the first time in 12 years.
Indeed, Bayern has already been knocked out of the DFB-Pokal, suffering a defeat to third-tier side Saarbrucken. Additionally, they currently trail Lazio 1-0 in their Champions League last-16 tie.
Meanwhile, Bayern has experienced two defeats and one draw in their last four Bundesliga matches, placing them 10 points behind the unbeaten leaders, Leverkusen, who are striving to secure their first-ever title under the guidance of the highly sought-after coach, Alonso.
Leverkusen has embarked on a remarkable 34-game unbeaten streak across all competitions this season, setting a new German record. Alonso’s team remains in contention for Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Europa League titles.
Since joining Leverkusen in October 2022, Alonso has emerged as one of Europe’s most promising young coaches. Understandably, the 42-year-old has attracted interest from several top European clubs, including Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
Liverpool reportedly sees Alonso as their top choice to succeed Jurgen Klopp, who will be departing Anfield at the end of the season. According to a recent report, the Reds have initiated their first official approach to lure Alonso from Leverkusen for the upcoming season.
However, Sky Sports in Germany reveals that Bayern Munich has identified Alonso as their preferred candidate to replace Tuchel and has intensified their pursuit by engaging in discussions with the Spaniard.
The report suggests that Bayern has received a positive response from Alonso during the talks and is cautiously optimistic about his potential move from the BayArena to the Allianz Arena this summer.
Reporter Florian Plettenberg informed Sky Sports’s Transfer Update, “[Bayern] have information that, if he makes a change, he will choose Bayern over Liverpool. Alonso perceives Liverpool and the legacy of Klopp as a challenging proposition. There’s a potential for more losses than wins.”
Alonso’s release clause is estimated to be between £12.8 million (€15 million) and £21.3 million (€25 million) this summer. However, the fixed exit clause in his contract, set at around £12.8 million (€15 million), will not come into effect until the summer of 2025.
If any club were to pay as much as £21.3 million (€25 million) for Alonso, it would represent a near-world-record fee for a manager. In 2021, Bayern set the record by spending £21.7 million to appoint Nagelsmann from RB Leipzig.
Alonso has strong ties with both Liverpool and Bayern, having previously played for both clubs. He spent five years with Liverpool from 2004 to 2009 before joining Bayern for three years from 2014 to 2017.
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