Xabi Alonso to Man City gathers pace as Bayer Leverkusen 'prepare for departure'

Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly prepping for Xabi Alonso’s departure at the end of the season with Manchester City among those eyeing up the talented manager.

Alonso is coveted as one of Europe’s hottest coaching prospects and was touted as a potential Jurgen Klopp replacement when the German left his post last season.

However, having guided Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title win, he decided to stick around at the BayArena for another season in order to hone his managerial craft.

But it appears Alonso will be on the move when the current season comes to a close, with Leverkusen already on the lookout for his replacement.

That’s according to Sky Germany, who claim the B04 hierarchy believes Alonso won’t be at the club for the 2025/26 season, despite still being under contract in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Alonso is expected to join an elite side in Europe, with City one destination being touted for the ex-Liverpool midfielder.

While the City bigwigs are determined to persuade Pep Guardiola to extend at the Etihad Stadium, the Catalan is currently out of contract at the end of the season.

Speaking about his future last week, Guardiola said: “I like my job. I’ve said many times that I love what I do. In terms of numbers or titles, it’s done, yeah… I would say a long time ago!

“I didn’t ever, ever expect when we arrived – and I don’t speak on behalf of Txiki [Begiristain] but I think Txiki and myself – we never thought we’d do it in the way that we have done it.”

He continued: “But still I like coming here every morning to work, I love it. Thinking about Wolves, and what are the messages that I have to tell them, the images I have to see, the training sessions I have to prepare – still I like it. And this is the main reason that I’m a manager.

“When I don’t feel this, it’s not just leaving Man City, I would not be a manager, I would not train, that’s for sure!”

Guardiola has hinted he doesn’t want to leave the club in the lurch, with some suggestions he could announce his decision before the new year.

But should Guardiola call time on his nine-year stint with the Blues, it could leave incoming Director of Football Hugo Viana with a huge task on his hands.

Real Madrid are also believed to be interested in Alonso, with Los Blancos tipped to move on from Carlo Ancelotti at the end of the campaign.

Persuading Alonso to snub the record European champions for East Manchester would be one way for Viana to immediately endear himself to the City faithful.