Bayern contact backup manager as they prepare for Liverpool Xabi Alonso swoop

Bayern Munich's new head of sport Max Eberl has contacted Roberto De Zerbi as the German club make contingency plans while battling Liverpool for Xabi Alonso.

It's no secret that both Liverpool and Bayern want Alonso to become their new head coach at the end of the season.

The 42-year-old Spaniard, who spent five years as a player on Merseyside, quickly rose to the top of the pile of contenders after Jurgen Klopp announced his intention to stand down as Liverpool manager at the end of the current campaign.

Meanwhile, Bayern, another of Alonso's former clubs, want the Leverkusen coach to replace the departing Thomas Tuchel.

Speculation over the former midfield playmaker's future has gone back and forth in recent weeks. While Alonso himself has remained coy on his next move, he remains the bookies' favourite for both jobs.

Some reporting in Germany has typically suggested Alonso is more likely to opt for Munich over Merseyside. However, no decision on where he decides to go (if anywhere) is expected until later in April.

Until then, all three of Liverpool, Bayern and Leverkusen — who still hold out hope of holding onto their coveted coach — are making plans.

According to Christian Falk of BILD, Bayern are already looking at backup options in the event that Alonso turns them down.

It is reported that Eberl, the club's new head of sport, has reached out to Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi, who is also another name regularly linked with Liverpool.

Falk reiterates that Alonso remains 'number one' on Bayern's shortlist, but he is not the only option.

Bayern's shortlist

Speaking to BILD recently, Eberl claimed the club don't have a 'plan A' and are still in the preliminary stages of their manager search, with more than four names still on the list.

He said: "There is currently no plan A, B and C. We are screening the situation: what the squad looks like, what DNA the club has, what history.

"We think carefully: which coaches fit what we have? What this club radiates and wants to achieve?"

Antonio Conte is another name recently linked with the Bayern job.

Meanwhile for Liverpool, the likes of Ruben Amorim (Sporting CP) and Julian Nageslmann (Germany) have also been suggested as potential candidates to succeed Klopp should they fail to persuade Alonso.