Xabi Alonso watch: Dream Jurgen Klopp successor moves closer to Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen

Xabi Alonso and his Bayer Leverkusen side have edged even closer to the Bundesliga title as Liverpool keep a close eye on the Spaniard who could succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. 

The former Liverpool midfielder has worked wonders since arriving in Germany and has unsurprisingly been marked as the next Liverpool manager after Klopp's decision to leave the hot seat at the end of the season.

Alonso remains the priority candidate for the Reds following Michael Edwards' return to Merseyside, with the 42-year-old's dream being to manage Liverpool one day according to former teammate Bastian Schweinsteiger.

However, the Reds face stiff competition for the exciting coach, with another of his former employers Bayern Munich incredibly keen to secure his services this summer.

Alonso has gained so many plaudits due to the astonishing results he has produced at the BayArena this season, with Leverkusen currently unbeaten in 38 matches in all competitions.

Die Werkself are edging closer to a first ever Bundesliga title this campaign and took another step towards the Meisterschale on Sunday, beating Freiburg 3-2 on the road.

Liverpool target Florian Wirtz opened the scoring after just two minutes, with Adam Hlozek restoring Leverkusen's lead before the break after Ritsu Doan's equaliser.

Patrick Schick then added a third shortly after the restart and the league leaders held on for a vital three points despite Yannik Keitel's strike for Freiburg with ten minutes to go.

The result maintains Leverkusen's ten-point lead over reigning champions Bayern after Die Roten managed a 5-2 victory at struggling Darmstadt on Saturday.

With just eight games to play of the Bundesliga season, Alonso is surely closing in on a first league title of his managerial career, while his side are also in the quarter-final of the Europa League and semi-final of the DFB Pokal.

XABI ALONSO TO LIVERPOOL LATEST

The future of Xabi Alonso remains uncertain heading towards the summer, but he is clearly Liverpool's first-choice successor to Klopp come the end of the current campaign.

Things have seemingly gone quiet in recent weeks, although Bayern sporting director Max Eberl recently claimed that his side are yet to speak to Alonso regarding his future.

Unsurprisingly, the former Liverpool No.14 is simply focusing on trying to win an amazing treble with a club that has historically been branded 'Neverkusen' for their disappointingly sparse trophy cabinet.

With Edwards now at the helm for the Reds, with the club's former sporting director having come back as Fenway Sports Group's CEO of Football, Liverpool could finalise their managerial plans soon.

Of course, there is also still a chance that Liverpool meet Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final, which would be Klopp's final game in charge of the Reds.