Speculation continues over where Xabi Alonso will be managing beyond this summer and if this will be at either Liverpool or Bayern Munich.
The retired Spain international is among the hottest properties in the dugout at the moment, having been at charge at Bayer Leverkusen since 2022.
This season, Alonso has overseen the North Rhine-Westphalian side's ascent to the top of the Bundesliga, with the club on course for winning the German top flight for the first time in the club's history.
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With 26 games gone of the Bundesliga season, the 42-year-old's team remains unbeaten with 22 victories and four draws, and are ahead of Bayern Munich by a remarkable 10 points.
With Leverkusen on course to lift the Bundesliga title for the first time, it is no surprise to see Alonso's name linked with some of European football's biggest jobs - and in particular two sides he represented during his playing career.
Liverpool are, of course, on the lookout for a new manager after it was confirmed Jurgen Klopp will be leaving Anfield at the end of this season.
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Bayern Munich are also seeking a new boss in the summer with Thomas Tuchel set to leave the Allianz Arena at the conclusion of the campaign.
Alonso played 210 times for Liverpool between 2004 and 2009, winning the Champions League and FA Cup at Anfield under Rafa Benitez, before moving to Real Madrid.
The World Cup winner ended his playing career with a three-season stint at Bayern under Pep Guardiola, turning out 117 times for the Bavarian side and winning three Bundesliga titles in the process.
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And it appears that according to reports in Germany, Alonso would prefer to move to Bayern ahead of Liverpool if he does leave the Bay Arena at the end of the season.
Bayern's honorary president Uli Hoeness has already confirmed that his side, Liverpool and Real Madrid are among the teams "working" to try and secure Alonso's services, and Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg believes Bayern is Alonso's preference.
He said: "Our clear information is if he leaves Leverkusen this summer, he will join Bayern Munich and not Liverpool."
If that's the case, it would be a major blow to the Anfield hierarchy and particularly Reds fans who had hoped to see Alonso return to Anfield as Klopp's successor.
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Time will time what eventually comes to pass.
Featured Image Credit: GettyTopics: Liverpool, Xabi Alonso, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Bundesliga