Bayer Leverkusen starting to get annoyed by what’s now being said about Xabi Alonso

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Liverpool continue to be involved in a three-way battle for the services of Xabi Alonso next season.

The Reds have seemingly installed Alonso as their first-choice candidate to take over from Jurgen Klopp at the end of the campaign.

However, with Bayern Munich having the same idea and current club Bayer Leverkusen also keen to keep the Spaniard, there’s plenty of this race still to run. As things begin to heat up, German outlet BILD have provided the latest on the situation. And it could potentially be good news for Liverpool.

They highlight reports from Sky Germany this week that Alonso has entered into talks with Bayern. Whilst dismissing these claims, BILD also report that Leverkusen are ‘very irritated’ by media suggestions that their manager is speaking to their Bundesliga title rivals.

It’s claimed that while Liverpool’s interest has been registered with the 42-year-old’s agent and passed on to Leverkusen, the same has not happened with Bayern. In fact, the Munich club are still said to be waiting for a ‘signal’ from Alonso that he’s willing to talk.

Leverkusen are also reportedly annoyed with claims that the coach has a release clause etched into his contract. There is claimed to be no such clause. However, this doesn’t mean that Alonso would come for free. A transfer fee would still apparently be needed, with Bayern’s status as a rival meaning they’d supposedly have to pay a bigger price than Liverpool.

Leverkusen annoyed with media tactics

This could all play into Liverpool’s hands quite nicely. Obviously, Leverkusen want to keep Alonso. He’s doing an incredible job at the BayArena and has only been there for 18 months. But if he’s to leave, surely they’ll do whatever they can to prevent it from being to Bayern.

Not only are the Munich side their closest rivals right now, but they also have a history of pinching top talent from around their own division.

As the biggest club in Germany, it isn’t too much of a stretch to suggest that they control the media narrative to a large degree. Perhaps Leverkusen see the reports this week as being tactics to destabilise them in the title race.

If that is the case, then it’s hard to see how they’ll play ball with Bayern over Alonso.

Of course, the decision ultimately won’t be up to them. It’ll be up to Xabi. But, quiet and thoughtful man that he appears to be, it would be a little out of character for him to upset his employers and pick the unpopular option.

With Liverpool seemingly doing everything above board so far, hopefully that will be appealing to both Alonso and his club. From Leverkusen’s perspective, if it has to be to anyone, then let it be to Liverpool.

For now, the focus will remain on what looks set to be an historic season for Die Werkself. A first ever Bundesliga title now looks inevitable, while they’re heavy favourites for the German Cup, too.

In the Europa League they could yet meet Liverpool. Perhaps that will present another opportunity to take advantage of Leverkusen’s annoyance at their domestic rivals.