Real Madrid receive final update on chances of hiring Jurgen Klopp | OneFootball

Real Madrid remain fully focused on hiring Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso as their next manager, a report has claimed, despite a strong admiration for Jurgen Klopp inside the Santiago Bernabeu.

With current boss Carlo Ancelotti expected to be relieved of his duties this summer - talks over a move to Brazil have temporarily stalled but could still be revived - Madrid have begun their search for a new manager.

Alonso has long been Madrid's dream heir to Ancelotti's post but, given the complications and cost that come with buying the Spaniard out of his current contract, some reports have claimed there has been contact with former Liverpool boss Klopp. The speculation grew to a point that his agent had to reaffirm his happiness in his current post as Red Bull's head of global soccer.

That has still not stopped the speculation and it was reported earlier this week that Madrid had once again made contact with Klopp to gauge their chances of hiring him to replace Ancelotti.

Things are not expected to progress further, with Fabrizio Romano revealing the focus remains on Alonso.

"I keep receiving many questions on Jurgen Klopp. I was checking on this story for weeks because we had this rumour for a long time," he said. "But what I got on this story on Jurgen Klopp is there is some people at Real Madrid having a high opinion of Klopp, really appreciating Klopp.

"But at the moment I’m not aware of anything advanced, also because the agent of Klopp has already gone public and clarified how happy he is at Red Bull. Just arrived a few months ago and taking care of the [manager search] at Leipzig. For example I’m told Klopp had direct contact with [Como manager] Cesc Fabregas a few weeks ago to speak about the Leipzig project. Cesc is still deciding to stay at Como, that's the position of the coach, that's another story but it's showing you how Klopp is involved in the Red Bull project.

"So that's the story, I'm still told that internally at Real Madrid they consider Xabi Alonso as the man for the job. Real Madrid still believe Alonso is option number one, two and three to become the new head coach.

"Then we have to wait for the exit process with Bayer Leverkusen, but the agreement between Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid will not be a problem."

Alonso is even thought to be drawing up a list of transfer demands ahead of a possible move to Madrid, asking for two midfielders and a defender to join him at the Bernabeu this summer.