Liverpool are reportedly prepared to miss out on Xabi Alonso, with the Bayer Leverkusen manager deciding that he will join Bayern Munich if he is to leave his current employers in the summer.
The 42-year-old is guiding Leverkusen towards their first-ever Bundesliga title in some style this season, with the Bay Arena club currently 10 points ahead of second-placed Bayern.
Alonso's men are unbeaten in the first 26 matches of the top-flight season and during their journey in the Europa League, in which they will face West Ham United in a quarter-final clash next month.
Since taking the reins at Leverkusen, the Spaniard has won 50 of his 75 matches in charge across all competitions, tasting defeat on just 10 occasions.
According to Sky Sports News, Alonso has decided where his next destination will be for the 2024-25 campaign should he opt to leave his position at Bayer Leverkusen.
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The report claims that the World Cup winner has picked Bayern Munich as his preferred role, with the coach currently attempting to beat the Bavarians to the Bundesliga crown.
It is widely understood that Liverpool are in the race for Alonso's services, highlighting the ex-Reds midfielder as their number-one target as the season approaches its end.
The Anfield club are on the hunt for a successor to German manager Jurgen Klopp, who is leaving his Merseyside post at the end of the term after nine years.
Although Alonso is Liverpool's first choice, the Reds are also looking at secondary options in the eventuality that they are unable to lure the 42-year-old to the Premier League.
It is believed that Klopp's side are also interested in sounding out the availability of Ruben Amorim, who is in the process of guiding Sporting Lisbon to the Primeira Liga title.
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As for the current Bundesliga holders, Bayern are in the market for a new manager following the news that the club will part ways with Thomas Tuchel at the end of the campaign.
Despite progression into the quarter-finals of the Champions League, Harry Kane and company are enduring a challenging season overall, with the Bavarians looking set to relinquish the German title for the first time since 2012.
With the chances of Alonso putting pen to paper at Anfield supposedly diminishing, it is said that the Liverpool squad want Pep Lijnders to take charge of first-team affairs next season.
Currently operating as Klopp's assistant, Lijnders is a highly-popular figure in Merseyside but has only briefly managed Eredivisie outfit NEC in his coaching career.
Carter White
