Bastian Schweinsteiger claims Xabi Alonso 'dreams' of managing Liverpool

Xabi Alonso's 'dream' is to manage Liverpool and he will leave Bayer Leverkusen for Anfield in the summer, according to Bastian Schweinsteiger.

The Spaniard, 42, is the hot favourite to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool after the 'tired' German announced he will step down at the end of the season.

It comes as Alonso's Leverkusen side top the Bundesliga table ahead of Bayern Munich and remain on course in the DFB-Pokal and the UEFA Europa League.

Reports this week suggested Liverpool first contacted Alonso over the upcoming vacancy in November but the coach has publicly insisted he is fully focused on Leverkusen, who are unbeaten in 30 games.

But former Manchester United midfielder Schweinsteiger shared some inside knowledge on the situation while working as a television pundit.

'I know him, and I am sure his dream is to coach Liverpool. I am sure he will leave Leverkusen in the summer,' he said.

Alonso's side put that unbeaten record on the line when they host Bayern in the Bundesliga on Saturday night.

If they win, they will move five points ahead of the defending champions and be strong favourites to lift the Meisterschale.

Lose and Bayern will move ahead of them to be in pole position to win a 12th consecutive title.

If Leverkusen avoid defeat, they'll close in on Bayern's 32-game unbeaten streak from 2020 - a record for a German club.

Liverpool, who host Burnley on Saturday afternoon, enter the weekend two points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League title race, albeit having played a game more.

Klopp is hoping to go out on a high and they remain alive in four competitions.

The Reds play Chelsea at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final on February 25, three days before they play Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round.

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