It looks like both Chelsea and Liverpool could miss out on Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso.
Mauricio Pochettino is still in charge at Chelsea, but it has been claimed that co-owner Behdad Eghbali wants to replace the Argentine with Xabi Alonso.
However, according to The Telegraph, sources have suggested that Bayern Munich are increasingly confident that they have the advantage in the race for the former Liverpool midfielder.
It is no surprise that Alonso is attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs in European football.
He is doing an incredible job at Leverkusen at the moment, with his side sitting at the top of the Bundesliga table. They are yet to actually lose a game this season. Out of the next generation of managers, Jurgen Klopp thinks the 42-year-old is the “standout” name.
Bayern Munich have advantage over Chelsea and Liverpool
You can see why Bayern would have an advantage over Chelsea in the battle for Alonso but not so much Liverpool, who he is also being linked to.
Alonso has played for both clubs but is a legend at Liverpool. And if the Spaniard goes on to win the Bundesliga, which it looks like he will, he may fancy a new challenge, such as the Premier League.
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That is one thing Chelsea can offer Alonso over Bayern, but it will probably not be enough.
Alonso has a link to the German club after his spell there as a player and will get to manage in the Champions League if he moves to Munich, something that the World Cup winner would not be able to do at Chelsea.
The Blues are currently 11th in the Premier League table and nowhere near the Champions League spots, which is why there is talk about Pochettino getting replaced in the first place.
As it stands, though, his successor is unlikely to be Alonso if he is removed from the Stamford Bridge dugout.
