Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is Bayer Leverkusen’s first-choice target to replace Xabi Alonso, according to reports in Germany.
Ten Hag was sacked by United in October after the team won just three games in their opening nine Premier League matches.
During his two-and-a-half years in charge at Old Trafford, Ten Hag guided United to victory in the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, while at Ajax, he helped the club win five trophies, including three Eredivisie titles.
The Dutchman is now free to join a new club following his United exit earlier this season and according to Kicker, Bayer Leverkusen have already registered their interest.
Leverkusen are preparing to replace Alonso this summer with the 43-year-old favourite to take over from Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
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Kicker reports that Ten Hag, who can speak German following his two-year stint as head coach of Bayern Munich II, is ‘number one’ on Leverkusen’s shortlist.
Xavi is also on Leverkusen’s radar with Ten Hag and the Bundesliga club have already made an approach for Barcelona’s former head coach.
Alonso is just about to finish his third season at Leverkusen where they will finish runners-up to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
Last season, Alonso won the league and cup double with Leverkusen and guided them to the Europa League final where they were beaten by Atalanta.
Under Alonso last term, Leverkusen were the first team to complete an entire Bundesliga season without defeat, while they also set a European record of 51 games in a row without being beaten across all competitions.
That success has seen him fly up Madrid’s shortlist of candidates to replace Ancelotti, who is no longer in the running to be Brazil’s new head coach after receiving a huge €50 million (£42.5m)-a-season offer to manage in the Saudi Pro League.
When asked about his future at Leverkusen last week, Alonso said: ‘I always say that the communication with Simon [Rolfes] and Fernando [Carro] is very clear. And, when there is something to decide, we will be very direct.
‘The trust between us has always been very important, and it stays that way.
‘There is no pressure on the timing of the decision. The situation is clear. There’s a moment for everything. So we need to wait a bit.’
Leverkusen, meanwhile, have acknowledged that they working behind the scenes on potential replacements for Alonso.
‘Basically, the job has always been to prepare theoretically for many eventualities,’ Leverkusen’s sporting director Simon Rolfes said on Saturday.
‘Clarity always helps in life. It doesn’t exist right now, but it will, and then we’ll move on.
‘There’s no question that clarity would be good for everyone. We’re all aware of that, and Xabi is aware of it too.’
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