Bayern Munich could yet turn their attention away from Xabi Alonso in their manager search.
The Bavarians are seeking a replacement for Thomas Tuchel, who will leave at the end of the season, and Alonso has been identified as a key target. The Spaniard used to play for Bayern and is poised to end their Bundesliga dominance with Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool are also keen on Alonso, who also used to play at Anfield, which could lead to a tug-of-war between the two European clubs. AZ now reports that Bayern could consider appointing Feyenoord's Arne Slot as their next manager. The 45-year-old has continued to see his stock rise in Rotterdam.
Slot has been in charge of the Eredivisie outfit since 2021 and guided them to the league title last season. He's also made in roads in Europe, guiding Feyenoord to the final of the inaugural edition of the Europa Conference League, where they lost to Jose Mourinho's Roma.
The Dutchman was on Tottenham's radar back in the summer before he eventually signed a new deal to stay with Feyenoord. Slot has made it clear that, when he does move on, it will be to a club outside of the Netherlands having also led AZ Alkmaar previously in his career.
He said last summer: "My next step will not be a club in Holland. If that is my next step, then I've failed completely. The normal next step will be to go abroad and I've always said the best league in the world is the Premier League."
Alonso has already looked to distance himself for a Leverkusen exit having been quizzed on it earlier this year: "I have nothing new to say about that. I wanted to say that in advance. Right now I'm the coach here, that's for sure. For the future I have nothing new to say, we'll see."
Alonso could yet meet Liverpool in the Europa League with the Reds and his German outfit the two favourites for the competition. Already the Spaniard has allowed Bayern to see firsthand what he's capable of. In a recent title grudge match Leverkusen hammered the Bavarians 3-0.
Bayern's chairman Herbert Hainer has said on their managerial search: "We have replaced three coaches in a not-so-long time frame. We want to work with a coach for the long haul. Hence, he will take our time thinking about it and analysing -- and hopefully, hire the right one."
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