Jurgen Klopp could inadvertently block Xabi Alonso from joining Liverpool, it has been claimed.
Since Klopp announced he is to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, former Liverpool midfielder Alonso has been widely tipped to take the reigns at Anfield in the summer.
At present, Alonso is in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, who are ten points clear of Bayern Munich at the Bundesliga summit, having not lost a game in any competition all season.
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However, with Thomas Tuchel also set to leave Bayern at the end of the current campaign, Liverpool may be forced to engage in a tug-of-war for the Spaniard’s services.
On Monday Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claimed that Bayern have already held positive discussions with Alonso.
The 42-year-old allegedly favours joining the Germany outfit as he feels following on from Klopp’s tenure at Liverpool is too much of a risk.
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Plettenberg told the publication: "Bayern have the information that if he moves, then he will go to Bayern and not to Liverpool.
"Alonso says that Liverpool and the Klopp legacy are a difficult [thing to follow]. You could lose more than win."
Klopp has won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, two League Cups and a Club World Cup in his nine-and-a-half years on Merseyside.
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Meanwhile, Bayern’s season is unravelling, with the Bavarian giants’ entire campaign essentially hinging on Tuesday night's Champions League encounter with Lazio.
Alonso’s exit could allegedly cost Bayern between £13million and £21million due to a fixed clause in his Leverkusen contract.
The final cost is dependent on how many trophies they win this campaign with a Bundesliga, German Cup and Europa League treble still a possibility.
Leverkusen will resume their Europa League campaign in the last-16 stage against Qarabag on Thursday.
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Meanwhile, they play Fortuna Dusseldorf in the German Cup semi-finals next month.
Topics: Liverpool, Xabi Alonso, Jurgen Klopp, Bayern Munich, Bundesliga, Football
Chris Byfield