Bayer Leverkusen are braced for interest from Manchester City in manager Xabi Alonso if Pep Guardiola leaves next summer, talkSPORT understands.
Guardiola’s contract expires at the end of the season and although he has not ruled out extending his stay, the Spaniard is no closer to a new deal.
talkSPORT understands City are willing to offer a one-year rolling deal to tempt him to remain at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola is also set to lose a close ally in City director of football Txiki Begiristain, who will leave at the end of the campaign.
City have already announced Sporting’s Hugo Viana as Begiristain’s replacement.
Should Guardiola elect to move on, City are prepared to swoop for Alonso.
Alonso and Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim are expected to feature high on City’s wishlist to replace Guardiola.
The 42-year-old has earned plenty of admirers for his work with Leverkusen having steered the club to an unbeaten season in which they won their first Bundesliga title.
He rebuffed the advances of Liverpool, a club he represented as a player for five years, before Arne Slot was hired as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.
When asked why he decided to stay with Leverkusen, Alonso told TNT Sports there ‘were many reasons’.
“After one year, we’re building a team, we’re building a great spirit here,” Alonso said in April.
“There were many reasons and so many players. The season has been great so far, and for sure we want to keep having this thing together.
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“I felt part of it. After one year, it didn’t feel like the right timing, and that’s why I’m committed.”
Alonso began his managerial career at Spanish side Real Sociedad where he took charge of their reserve team.
Clubs across Europe were put on notice when he led Real Sociedad B to the Spanish second tier in his first campaign in charge but could not kept them afloat the following term.
He moved to Leverkusen in October 2022 after the club sacked Gerardo Seoane who oversaw their worst start to a season since 1979.
Sporting’s Amorim remains an attractive option for his instant revival of the Portuguese giants.
Amorim joined Sporting in March 2020 and ended the club’s 20-year wait for a Portuguese league title in his first full season in charge.
The 39-year-old also steered Sporting to another league title last term and was heavily rumoured with moves to Liverpool and West Ham, but nothing came to fruition.
Despite the obvious links to City given his relationship to Viana, Amorim insists he has not spoken about a potential move to the Etihad with the former Newcastle midfielder.
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“Viana’s path is Viana’s path, my path is my path,” Amorim said last week.
“So we only have a professional relationship which won’t last forever. What will remain is our friendship, that’s for sure.”
