Xabi Alonso 'set to leave Bayer Leverkusen' as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich circle

Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso is "set to leave Bayer Leverkusen" at the end of the current season - with former clubs Real Madrid and Bayern Munich emerging as potential suitors.

Having led the Bay Arena outfit to a first Bundesliga title during his first full season as a manager, the Spanish icon arguably is the best rated young coach in Europe. Alonso's team went unbeaten in the league last term, while securing a domestic double with the DFB Pokal Cup as they also finished as runners-up in the Europa League.

However, the former Anfield hero's stay with the club may be set to come to a close at the end of the current campaign, according to Eurosport ES. Taking to Twitter/X, the outlet claimed that the 42-year-old coach will depart alongside player Alejandro Grimaldo in the summer.

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Alonso had been heavily linked with the Liverpool hotseat after the announcement of Jurgen Klopp's intention to resign from his post earlier in the year. However, the Basque former midfield maestro decided to stay put with Leverkusen for a second full term as the job instead went to Arne Slot.

The possibility of the Spaniard's availability this summer may put a number of potential suitors on high alert, including ex-employers Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Speaking previously about his future at Bay Arena, Alonso remained coy as he kept his cards close to his chest about his plans after deciding to stay at the end of last season.

He said: "It’s been a season we have had a lot of speculation regarding my future. At the moment this is the right place for me to develop as a coach, I am a young coach. Right now this is the right place. I have to thank the management. The club had been supportive and I feel respected by all departments.

"The fans, they have shown great support and they have reasons to believe and dream we will have a great season. I have a great staff to help me work day by day, and so for sure the players. They give me so many reasons to stay. I have so much more to do here."

Going into more detail about whether taking the Anfield post vacated by Klopp was ever a possibility, Alonso recently told CNN: "All these decisions, they need to be thorough. You need to really think about them.

"And it was more about what I had, not what I’m missing. For sure, my bond with Liverpool is there and it’s still there. So there’s not any kind of issue with that."

Leverkusen have made a solid start to the current Bundesliga season, currently sitting in fourth place in the league standings after 10 games played. The German champions also sit in 13th place in the Champions League standings after four fixtures played - putting them in line for a playoff round place.