Bayer Leverkusen director Simon Rolfes has said he is ‘sure’ that Xabi Alonso will remain at the club next season, despite reported interest from Liverpool.
Alonso has been named as the frontrunner to become Liverpool manager in the summer, following the announcement that Jurgen Klopp will step down from his role at the end of the season.
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The Spaniard – who spent five seasons at Liverpool as a player – has overseen a remarkable transformation of Leverkusen, leading the German side to the top of the Bundesliga table.
Leverkusen are unbeaten in 31 games in all competitions this season and beat defending champions Bayern Munich 3-0 to open up a five-point gap at the weekend.
Alonso’s side are targeting a first-ever Bundesliga crown and Rolfes believes the current progress of Leverkusen will persuade Alonso to turn down a potential approach from Anfield in the summer.
“Yes I’m sure. One is contract constellations. The other thing is how comfortable he feels, the family, himself and that he knows what he has in the club,” Rolfes told SPORT1.
“He also has a very good team, we will have a very good perspective next year and there is no change in the team.
“We will definitely have a top team available next year. These are all points that, in addition to contracts, coaches like Xabi but also players who arouse interest from other clubs often keep us with us,”
Rolfes was asked for his view on Alonso’s impact, with the 42-year-old having thrived in his first senior managerial position.
“He surprises me every now and then. What we and he always say internally: Everyone has their role and we have a good squad. Everyone has the quality to play a good role. Xabi has the courage to not only commit to an eleven, but also to say: I’ll adapt the system and bring other guys onto the pitch. We are not trapped in the system that is based on how we play football.”
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