21 February 2024 , 11:17
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Thomas Tuchel's departure from Bayern Munich could see him mixed up in a merry-go-round alongside Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso and the soon-to-depart Jurgen Klopp.
With a string of telling losses and a domestic and European campaign on the brink, Tuchel has been handed an expiration date for his time in charge. He'll depart at the end of the season, coinciding with the exit of Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp, who brought Reds fans to a standstill with his revelation.
Replacing the Champions League-winning boss has become priority number one for the Merseyside club, and all eyes immediately turned to their former midfielder Alonso. However, as with the majority of premier talent on display in the Bundesliga both on the pitch and touchline, Bayern often come calling.
The same speculation that swirled around the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze - who couldn't refuse big-money offers from Bayern when leaving Borussia Dortmund - is setting upon Alonso, who ended his career with the Bavarian club from 2014 to 2017.
Tied to the club until 2026, Bayer Leverkusen's director of sport has chimed in on Alonso's rumoured exit. When asked by German outlet Sport1 if the Spaniard will remain at the club, he replied, "Yes, I'm sure."
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Yet, he'll be tipped to arrive at either Anfield or the Allianz Arena come the summer, with Tuchel now a possible replacement for Xavi at the helm of Barcelona. Alonso's decision will be by no means a simple one, as on his first visit back to the Allianz Arena with Leverkusen in 2023, he commented: “I happily remember my years in Munich.
"It was a special time from the first day till the last. I finished my career as a player there. It was something special for all of us. The memories are all very positive. It’s to do with my experience as a player in the Bundesliga and the last years I spent at Bayern. That time had a big influence on me."
Liverpool are on the lookout for a new manager following Jurgen Klopp's exit announcement (PA)But, Alonso has also been vocal over his time in Merseyside, stating in a talkSPORT interview from 2018: “If I decide somewhere along the way to take my chances as a manager, my link, my commitment and my passion with Liverpool is there. We’ll see if we can cross paths in our ways.”
It seems like the fork in Alonso's road leads to two of his former clubs, and despite his current employer insisting he'll stay, all expectations are that an exit route will be chosen.
Whoever loses out on the in-demand Spaniard will have to settle, but a situation where Tuchel touches down in Catalonia, Alonso chooses from two European giants, and both Klopp and Xavi take a step back, is likely.
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