In-demand Alonso has no shortage of top jobs to target

Some of Europe's biggest clubs are set to part company with their bosses this summer and Xabi Alonso will seemingly have his pick of the vacancies should he want to leave Bayer Leverkusen.

With his side unbeaten in all competitions and sitting proud at the top of the Bundesliga, Alonso is football's most in-demand manager.

We look at the glittering options the Spaniard is likely to be presented with come the end of the season.

Liverpool

Not long after the bombshell news broke that Jurgen Klopp would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the current campaign, Alonso was quickly touted as the German's natural heir.

The 42-year-old was a popular figure during a five-year spell with the Reds during his playing days and would have the backing of the Anfield faithful from the get-go.

That said, coming in after a manager who has won trophies galore during nine years on Merseyside would be no easy task.

The tactics favoured by Alonso, who lifted the World Cup during a glittering playing career, are not necessarily aligned with the way Klopp sets up — but there is no doubt his brand of football would excite the fans who used to chant his name.

Bayern Munich

While at one former club he would be succeeding a legendary figure, Alonso would be tasked with lifting another out of the doldrums.

Bayern Munich will part ways with Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season, with the German club's long-running Bundesliga dominance in serious doubt as they trail Alonso's Leverkusen by eight points.

The Bavarians, who had been hoping to lift a staggering 12th successive league title, are well aware of Alonso's qualities and have reportedly identified him as their No1 choice to succeed Tuchel at the Allianz Arena.

Moving to a club in a league he already knows inside out might be a more logical next step than such a high-profile Premier League role at Anfield.

Barcelona

Barcelona will also need a new head coach this summer — and managerial jobs do not come much bigger.

The Blaugrana are preparing to wave goodbye to club legend Xavi and have reportedly lined up ex-Real Madrid star Alonso as his replacement.

Taking over in Catalonia would not go down well with fans of the club he represented from 2009 until 2014 but Alonso has ties with Barca due to his father Periko being a former player at the Camp Nou.

He would be in danger of burning his bridges with Real should he switch to their bitter rivals, which may not be worth the risk if he fancies managing them one day.

Stay put

If coaching Real Madrid is indeed Alonso's ultimate aim, he may be tempted to continue working wonders at Leverkusen and bide his time.

Veteran boss Carlo Ancelotti has just extended his contract in the Spanish capital by two years and is on course to land another LaLiga title this season.

Alonso will be only too aware that this is his first full season in charge at Leverkusen and jumping ship to a big job so early in his managerial career would be a gamble.

And regardless of whether he delivers the club's maiden Bundesliga title this term, the two-time Champions League winner may feel there is still plenty to achieve with the squad he has assembled.