Bayern Leverkusen keen to renew Xabi Alonso’s contract amid Real Madrid interest

The 41-year-old played for Real Madrid from 2009-14

Ever since Xabi Alonso took over the role of Bayer Leverkusen's manager, the club finished the season on a positive note. Earlier, they were embroiled in an unforeseen relegation struggle before he was hired, which cost Gerardo Seoane his job.

Their fortunes improved once the former Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich midfielder joined, and they ultimately finished sixth.

However, there were concerns regarding how much of this was attributable to his coaching and how much to the excellent calibre of Leverkusen's team.

Currently, they want to keep the 2010 World Cup champion as their manager, despite Real Madrid's desire.

The coming campaign will be critical for the fledgling coaching career of Xabi Alonso. Now that a team is being built in his image, he must perform.

Alonso said he is not contemplating leaving the club and plans to remain until his deal expires next year, despite rumours linking him to the management role at Tottenham Hotspur.

Since taking over in October of last year, Alonso has changed the course of events at Leverkusen. The Bundesliga team was having trouble in Europe and had won just one game in eight league games before his arrival.

Spurs are interested in hiring the former Spanish midfielder as their manager after some positive results with Bayer Leverkusen

As a manager who might someday inhabit the Santiago Bernabeu dugout, Xabi Alonso is one who Real Madrid executives will be closely monitoring as he develops at Bayer Leverkusen, according to sources.

One of the many teams monitoring the situation is Real Madrid. ESPN says that Los Blancos president Florentino Perez and company think Alonso fits the mould of a potential Real Madrid boss.