Xabi Alonso deals Tottenham huge blow in their search for a new manager as he confirms he is STAYING at Bayer Leverkusen next season… with Spurs turning their attentions to Arne Slot
Xabi Alonso has confirmed he will stay on and manage Bayer Leverkusen next season.
Spurs are on the look for their next head coach and the Liverpool legend was a potential candidate to succeed Antonio Conte as their new permanent manager after impressing in his first full-time managerial role.
While Spurs had reportedly earmarked the 41-year-old as one of their main targets and are prepared to pay his release from the Bundesliga club, there were concerns over his lack of experience.
However, Alonso has announced that he is happy at the BayArena and confirmed he will be their manager next season.
‘I’m happy here with the team and the club,’ Alonso told BILD. ‘I’m not worried about my future.’
Xabi Alonso has ruled himself out of the running to become Tottenham’s new manager
Spurs are currently without a permanent manager after a turbulent 2022-23 campaign so far
When asked if he would be in charge of Leverkusen next season, Alonso replied: ‘That’s correct.’
It’s a blow for Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who has been searching for a new manager for several months now since sacking Conte.
Mail Sport understands Feyenoord manager Arne Slot is emerging as a strong candidate after it transpired last week that Julian Nagelsmann would not become the club’s next boss.
Tottenham are adamant there is not a top target, but Slot is high in the thoughts of the Spurs hierarchy.
Mail Sport revealed yesterday that Feyenoord want to offer Slot a new contract worth in the region of £2.5million a year to tie their highly rated coach down.
Slot, who would cost £6m in compensation, knows he can earn much more than that at Spurs.
Tottenham are exploring their interest in Feyenoord boss Arne Slot (left) as Daniel Levy (right) continues to search for a new head coach after Antonio Conte was dismissed back in March
Spurs turning their attentions to Slot comes after Spurs sources claimed the club would not be looking to formalise their initial interest in Nagelsmann.
It is claimed that Tottenham have ‘great respect’ for the German coach but…