Real Madrid are looking for a replacement for Carlo Ancelotti who is, according to reports, is set to depart the club at the end of the 2024 season.
It's been a slightly underwhelming season for the Spanish giants, who were knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester City in the semi-finals, before being pipped to the LaLiga title by their rivals Barcelona.
Madrid did manage to win some silverwear this season, with the 64-year-old clinching his second Spanish Cup title, following a pretty impressive cup run that saw his side beat Villarreal, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona to reach the final.
Questions were asked about his tenure at the club though following their Champions League semi-final exit, but earlier this month, he confirmed that he would be staying on as the Madrid manager for another season.
It came after a 1-1 draw to Athletic Bilbao and with Mail Sport previously reporting that the 64-year-old could be moving to take over as Brazil's new manager, they are now looking to a legend of the succeede the four-time Champions League winning coach.
And it is being reported by BILD that Florentino Perez 'has identified Xabi Alonso as the man to replace Ancelotti once he departs.'
Alonso, who joined the club from Liverpool in 2009, went on to make 236 appearances for Los Blancos and was also a part of Ancelotti's side that won La Decima in 2013-14.
Hanging up his boots in 2017, the Spaniard has moved into coaching, having spent time in Madrid's youth set-up, before taking up a managerial position at Real Sociodad B.
He was appointed the manager of Bayer Leverkusen last October and has won 13 of his 26 Bundesliga matches in charge of the German outfit, guiding them to sixth in the table while securing a berth in next season's Europa League.
The 41-year-old's contract with Leverkusen will expire in 2024, meaning he will be able to seamlessly transition into the then vacant managerial position at Madrid, after Ancelotti departs the club.
But he will have big boots to fill, with the Italian coach winning two Champions League titles, a league title and two Spanish Super Cups, during his two stints at the Bernabeu.
Tottenham had previously made him their number one target this summer but had to divert their search elsewhere, instead signing Ange Postecoglou, after Alonso announced he'd be staying in Germany.
Tottenham had previously made him their number one target this summer but had to divert their search elsewhere, instead signing Ange Postecoglou, after Alonso announced he'd be staying in Germany.