Bayern Munich open talks with Xabi Alonso but there's still hope for Liverpool

Leverkusen currently enjoy a ten-point advantage at the summit of the table with ten games remaining and seem poised to break Bayern's 11-title streak.

Alonso's impressive performances have attracted attention from top European clubs, with Bayern and Liverpool both preparing for potential changes in leadership at the season's end.

According to reports from the UK and Germany, Bayern have initiated discussions with Alonso, despite still being contenders for the title against Leverkusen.

While the 33-time Bundesliga champions have taken the initiative in trying to secure Alonso for the Allianz Arena, journalist Constantin Eckner suggests it's improbable that the Spaniard will commit to the move without first consulting Liverpool.

“I can confirm they [Bayern] have opened talks with him and his management,” Eckner told talkSPORT. “It started right away after Bayern announced that Thomas Tuchel would leave the club at the end of the season.

“There is a gentleman’s agreement between Bayer Leverkusen and Xabi Alonso that if he gets the chance to go to a major club, then he is allowed to enter negotiations.

“Bayer Leverkusen are still in the mix as his contract runs for another few years and he has a release clause in his contract but it can only be triggered in 2025, so Leverkusen can receive a large compensation if he goes.

“I don’t think he will say yes to them [Bayern] before he talks to Liverpool, however I think Bayern are in a great position right now.

“He knows Bayern just like he knows Liverpool, he played for them and was in the starting eleven until he retired.”

Staying in Germany with Bayern instead of moving to Merseyside has been suggested as potentially the wiser decision.

Eckner suggests that inheriting the role from the highly esteemed and successful Klopp could pose a significant burden on Alonso's shoulders at this early stage of his promising managerial journey.

“Bayern are in a bit of a slump right now, structurally they are still a great club but succeeding Thomas Tuchel might be easier than being the successor to Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, he added.

“These are some shoes to fill and I don’t even know if Xabi Alonso feels ready for it. Jurgen Klopp, nine years at Anfield, his successor is doomed to fail.”