Liverpool Next Manager: Reds BLOW as Bayern 'open talks' with Xabi Alonso

Bayern Munich have 'opened talks' with Liverpool target Xabi Alonso over becoming their next manager. 

The Spaniard is seen as the number one choice of both Liverpool and Bayern for their upcoming managerial vacancies, having guided Bayer Leverkusen to the brink of a first-ever Bundesliga title.

Leverkusen are 10 points clear of Bayern in the race for the German crown and are also into the latter stages of the DFB Pokal and Europa League too.

Alonso, 42, was anointed as Jurgen Klopp's preferred successor when the German called him the outstanding coach of his generation and he was widely tipped for an Anfield return.

Having represented Liverpool as a player between 2004 and 2009, Alonso is seen as the fans' choice and he was a Champions League winner as well as an FA Cup winner during his time at Anfield.

But Bayern too have harboured ambitions of adding Alonso to their bench.

The World Cup winner played for the Bavarian outfit under Pep Guardiola from 2014 to 2017, winning three league titles, before hanging up his boots.

He then began his coaching career with Real Sociedad's B team, guiding them to the Spanish second tier for the first time in six decades, before embarking on a German adventure with Leverkusen.

Alonso replaced Gerardo Seoane in October 2022 with Leverkusen mired in the relegation zone but has in the space of less than two years turned them into champions-elect.

Leverkusen's form this season has been to the detriment of Bayern, who are facing their first trophyless season for 12 years.

Manager Thomas Tuchel is going to pay the price with the club confirming last month that they would be seeking a "sporting realignment" this summer in a move which would see Tuchel replaced.

Alonso leaped to the top of their list of replacements and now Sky Sport Germany is reporting a decisive move made in the market by the German record champions.

Bayern optimistic over Alonso approach

Reporter Florian Plettenberg spoke to Sky's Transfer Update and claimed that Bayern are cautiously optimistic that Alonso will choose the Allianz Arena in the event that he leaves Leverkusen.

He is under contract at the BayArena until 2026 with the club hopeful that he will see out his terms.

It looks like Bayern will be forced to pay between €15m and €25m to take Alonso out of Leverkusen this summer as a fixed exit fee of €15m won't kick in until 2025.

"They have the information that, if he changes, he will go to Bayern and not Liverpool. Alonso says that Liverpool and the [Jurgen] Klopp legacy are a difficult number. You could lose more than win," Plettenberg said.

It was also reported by Sky that Alonso had given Bayern 'positive signals' over their approach to make him manager in what could be seen as a big blow to Liverpool's ambitions.

However, Sky's claims vary dramatically from other reports in Germany which claim that the Bundesliga giants have now turned their attention to Feyenoord boss Arnie Slot.

Meanwhile, last week it was reported that Alonso's 'clear preference' in a choice between his two former clubs is actually Liverpool.

Other names on the Reds' list are said to include Ruben Amorim (Sporting CP), Julian Nagelsmann (Germany) and Roberto de Zerbi (Brighton).