Bayern Munich have reportedly opened talks with Xabi Alonso over him becoming their new manager in the summer – in a potential blow to Liverpool’s chances of landing him.

Alonso, 42, is world football’s most in-demand coach after a hugely successful season with Bayer Leverkusen that sees them 10 points ahead of Bayern in the Bundesliga title race.

Liverpool are keen on the Spaniard to succeed Jurgen Klopp but reports from Germany suggest Bayern – who want a replacement for Thomas Tuchel – have already held discussions with him.

Sky Sport Deutschland, via Daily Mail, reported on Monday night that the first signs were positive for Bayern and that Alonso currently favours them over Liverpool.

Their reporter Florian Plettenberg reported that Alonso feels following on from Klopp’s successful tenure at Anfield is too high a risk.

Klopp has won the Champions League, the Premier League, the FA Cup, two League Cups, and the FIFA Club World Cup during his nine years in charge at Liverpool and is adored by the red half of Merseyside.

That would certainly be a more difficult legacy to follow than Tuchel’s unravelling spell at Bayern, with their season essentially hinging on Tuesday night’s Champions League game with Lazio.

The news comes as a huge blow to Liverpool who are also keeping tabs on Alonso as a potential successor to Klopp.

Liverpool made the shock announcement in January that Klopp has decided to leave the club at the end of the season and Alonso has been linked with the upcoming vacancy ever since.

Alonso won the Champions League as an Anfield star in 2005 and has always maintained a close affinity with fans of the club.

Klopp previously heaped praise on Alonso recently, stating: “Xabi is doing an incredible job.

“The ‘dinosaurs’ like Ancelotti, Mourinho, Guardiola and myself will not do it for 20 more years but the next generation is already there. I would say Xabi is stand-out in that department.

“He was a world-class player, like a coach already, and the team he has set up is exceptional. Not only the points tally but the way they play.”