Xabi Alonso is reportedly Bayern Munich’s top managerial target (Picture: Getty)
Bayern Munich director of sport Max Eberl insists the club are yet to hold negotiations with Xabi Alonso over the prospect of replacing Thomas Tuchel in the summer.
Last month it was confirmed that Tuchel would depart the Allianz Arena after the two parties had reached a mutual agreement, with the German champions currently sitting ten points adrift of leaders Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
Leverkusen’s manager, Alonso, has been earmarked as a possible successor to Tuchel and Sky Germany claimed last week that Bayern had pulled ahead of Liverpool in the race to land the Spaniard, widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders on his generations.
The report suggested that Alonso was reluctant to replace Klopp and his extraordinary legacy and had intimated that he favoured a move to Bayern after positive discussions with the Bavarian giants.
Alonso is tied into a deal at Leverkusen until the summer of 2026 and it would reportedly require a fee of £21million to prise the 2010 World Cup winner away from Bay Arena.
But Eberl has delivered a fresh twist in the saga while speaking with Sky Germany, refuting claims that Bayern had opened talks with Alonso and telling supporters there will be no ‘quick fix’ after a difficult season.
‘Of course we want the new coach to be in place as soon as possible, but it has to be right, there will be no quick fix,’ Bayern’s director of sport said.
‘We have a list of priorities that we want to work through, but we still have a season to complete with Thomas Tuchel and we want to finish it in the best possible way.’
Bayern have not spoken to Alonso, according to club director Eberl (Picture: Getty)
Pressed on rumours linking Bayern with Alonso, Eberl responded: ‘It’s not up to me to talk about other coaches.
‘We have to do our job and find out who is the right one. Then we have to see what it might cost and if we can afford it.
‘There are many facets to the search for a coach.
‘We haven’t talked to anybody yet. It will always be respectful because a few of the candidates are at another club, so it’s not that easy.’
Alonso’s Leverkusen sit ten points clear at the top of the German top flight (Picture: Getty)
Addressing the speculation, Bayern and Germany legend Lothar Matthaus predicted that Alonso would stay put at Leverkusen despite interest from two of European football’s biggest clubs.
‘His dream may be to one day coach Bayern, Liverpool or Real Madrid,’ he said.
‘But, in my opinion, he is not done at Leverkusen yet. Xabi is not someone who gets carried away by big names, he has celebrated too many successes as a player for that.
‘He, in addition, is not going to be guided by the economic aspect. What matters to him is what he has built and who he has built it with.
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‘He knows where he comes from and what he owes to others. That’s why I don’t think he’s going to sign for another club next season.
‘I can’t think of any coach in Europe or the world who fits Bayern Munich better than Xabi Alonso. But Alonso is focused on Bayer Leverkusen and I think that is good.
‘He is not yet interested in Bayern Munich, nor in Liverpool or Real Madrid. He is only interested in winning three titles with Leverkusen in the next two and a half months.
‘The way he was a player, he is the same now as a coach. He is true to his character. The stories that are unfolding now and in the coming weeks and months don’t matter to him. He has no pressure and can take things easy.’
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