Tottenham chief Daniel Levy is ready to pay Xabi Alonso’s release clause at Bayer Leverkusen after identifying the former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder as his number 1 target to replace Antonio Conte.
Tottenham reportedly identified Xabi Alonso as their number 1 managerial target
But the club will have to pay damages to secure the Spaniard’s services
Alonso has led Bayer Leverkusen to the semi-finals of the Europa League this season
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Tottenham Hotspur have moved one step closer to making Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso the new permanent manager.
The former Liverpool star has been seen as one of the hottest contenders to take over as the club’s next permanent head coach since the departure of Antonio Conte in March.
But according to a report from the MirrorSpurs have labeled the 41-year-old as their main target and are ready to pay for the Spaniard’s release from the Bundesliga club.
The report also suggests that the required package would be one year’s worth of Alonso’s salary at Leverkusen.
While plans to appoint Alonso appear to be in flux, the Champions League-winning former midfielder has remained tight-lipped when discussing a possible return to the Premier League.
Tottenham have reportedly named Xabi Alonso as their number 1 target for the club’s next manager
Spurs have been without a permanent head coach since the departure of Antonio Conte in March
When asked earlier this month if he would like to take over at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Alonso appeared to be cementing his future at Die Werkself.
“I’ve been in football for years, rumors are normal, but we still have a lot to achieve,” said Alonso.
‘That’s why I’ve been sitting here with my head at 100 percent for the past few months. And my head is also 100 percent ready for next season.’
After hanging up his boots in 2017 after three years at Bayern Munich, Alonso got his first start in management with Real Sociedad’s reserve team, the same side where he began his playing career.
Alonso took over at Leverkusen in October, with the club sitting in the relegation zone after winning just one of their first eight league matches.
Since then, the Spaniard has led a remarkable turnaround at the club, with Leverkusen currently sixth in the German top flight, qualifying for next season’s Europa Conference League if they can maintain their position with three games remaining.
Leverkusen are also in the semi-finals of the Europa League, with an outing to Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the first leg on Thursday.
Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen are preparing for a Europa League semi-final against AS Roma