Bayern Munich could look to reassert their dominance in German football by raiding their closest rivals over the summer.
Bayern Munich have won the Bundesliga 11 seasons in a row, a remarkable record unheard of in elite level football.
Last season Thomas Tuchel's side relied on a final-day slip-up from Borussia Dortmund to secure the title, and it looks like that was a sign that their strangle-hold on the Bundesliga was loosening.
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This season the Bavarian giants have won 13 of their 16 games, but that impressive record has not been enough to see them open up a gap at the top of the table.
In fact, Tuchel's side aren't even top of the pile. Bayer Leverkusen's title bid has been one of the biggest surprises in European football this season, with Xabi Alonso's side currently four points above Bayern having played one game more.
On Saturday Exequiel Palacios scored a 94th minute winner against Augsburg to extend Leverkusen's unbeaten start to the season to 17 matches. The top two will go head-to-head in a mouth-watering clash next month.
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Despite summer signing Harry Kane scoring 22 goals in 16 league games this season, club bosses believe they need summer reinforcements to reassert Bayern's domestic dominance.
Their plan to do that? Sign players and staff from the one team that is currently better than them.
According to 90min, Bayern are considering offering Alonso the manager's job. The former Bayern, Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder is earning a reputation for coaching attacking and attractive football, and would be the first choice option should Bayern loose patience with under-pressure coach Tuchel.
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As well as Alonso, Bayern are reportedly interested in poaching Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz and left-back Alejandro Grimaldo.
Wirtz is one of the most exciting young playmakers in the world, and has already attracted serious interest from Manchester City.
Barcelona academy graduate Grimaldo has made 13 direct goal contributions since joining the club last summer, and could be the perfect replacement for Alphonso Davies should the Canadian International leave Bayern.
Leverkusen fans could end up celebrating a historic achievement come the end of the season, but they will be bracing themselves for the inevitable raid from Bayern.
Topics: Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Harry Kane, Xabi Alonso, Bundesliga