Xabi Alonso played a pivotal role in Bayer Leverkusen completing a summer deal for Benfica defender Alejandro Grimaldo – an indicator that he will stay in Germany amid interest from Tottenham.
Alonso has already refuted suggestions that he could leave the Bundesliga club this summer but Spurs have continued to hold an interest in his appointment. Mirror Football reported that chairman Daniel Levy had given the green light to paying the manager’s release clause .
Julian Nagelsmann will not become the next Spurs boss as the club have not considered him for their managerial vacancy, with Ryan Mason expected to be in charge until the end of the season as they continue to monitor former Liverpool midfielder Alonso for the long-term position.
Antonio Conte was sacked in March, with his assistant Cristian Stellini taking over on an interim basis. However, Stellini was dismissed following Tottenham's 6-1 defeat at Newcastle last month and the club’s search for a new permanent boss continues.
With former boss Mauricio Pochettino going to Chelsea and Nagelsmann not being involved in the race, the pressure has cranked up on Spurs and Levy to make the correct appointment. Despite their interest in Alonso, securing the former midfielder could prove tricky.
"I've been in football for many years, Alonso said earlier this month. "Rumours are normal but we still have a lot to achieve. That's why my head is 100 percent here for the last few months. And my head is also 100 percent here for next season."
Have Your Say! Who should Spurs appoint as their next manager? Tell us what you think here.
Alonso has been heavily involved with Bayer Leverkusen’s squad planning for next season. He gave the green light to the signing of full-back Grimaldo, a fellow Spaniard, and even gave the defender a tour of the club’s facilities prior to the move being made official this week.
The former central midfielder secured his requisite coaching badges in 2018 and was subsequently appointed as coach of Real Madrid's Under-14 team, before moving to take up the position at Real Sociedad's B team the following year.
Alonso was heavily linked with the Borussia Monchengladbach job last year before he ultimately decided to reject that offer. There had been an expectation Alonso would eventually take over the senior Real Sociedad side, but with Imanol Alguacil continuing to thrive, he decided to depart at the end of last season.
Alonso was appointed at Bayer last autumn and helped transform the side’s fortunes; they were struggling near the foot of the table but now sit seventh and are in the Europa League semi-final against Roma – against whom they trail 1-0 after last week’s first leg in the Italian capital.
