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Xabi Alonso has confirmed he will remain as Bayer Leverkusen head coach next season, ending speculation he could succeed Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager this summer.

Sky Germany had earlier reported that the Spaniard had told Bayern Munich, who were also interested in the 42-year-old, that he will be remaining at Leverkusen, who he has guided to the verge of winning this season's Bundesliga.

"It's been a season where we've had a lot of speculation regarding my future, until now we've had so many games, we've been pretty busy and focused," said Alonso in Friday's press conference ahead of his side's game with Hoffenheim on Saturday.

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Xabi Alonso ends recent speculation linking him to Liverpool and Bayern Munich by committing his future to Bayer Leverkusen.

"[Liverpool and Bayern] are clubs I respect, I played there, I have strong links to them, but it's not correct for me to speak about them right now."Xabi Alonso.

"It's more about the conviction I have that I am in the right place, at Bayer Leverkusen, that I want to keep growing with the club and the players.

"I am at this stage of my young career as a coach, it's too early to talk about these things."

Alonso has led Leverkusen to the brink of their first Bundesliga title in his first full season as manager.

After three years in charge of Real Sociedad's B team, Alonso joined Leverkusen in October 2022, with the side in the bottom half of the Bundesliga.

He engineered an improvement that led to Europa League qualification.

As much as Leverkusen are happy with this news, so are Real.

"Now there's no guarantees in football and he could suffer a dip next season but essentially, he's backing himself, his ability, his work.

"Another point to make is that Liverpool will digest this development differently from Bayern because they've been very private and respectful over the process of Klopp's successor, whereas the German giants were very public and chest-out about Alonso joining them?

I don't see Bayer Leverkusen winning the league again next year, I think Bayern the juggernaut will continue where they've been the last 10 years.

"I'm shocked?