Real Madrid 'plotting' huge Bayer Leverkusen double swoop

Real Madrid are planning a sensational double swoop to sign Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso alongside attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz next year, a report has stated.

Madrid's interest in Germany international Wirtz has been known since the summer. The 21-year-old led Leverkusen to a maiden Bundesliga title last season with a tally of 11 goals and 11 assists and has emerged as a major target for the European champions.

However, he is not the only leading figure from BayArena that Madrid want to bring to the Bernabeu.

According to Sky Germany, the pair are wanted by the La Liga title holders, who sit six points behind leaders Barcelona and have lost two of their four Champions League matches this term.

Reports in Spain have hinted at Madrid's unhappiness with the performances of the club's midfield stars. Aurelien Tchoaumeni has been linked with a move away - though he has shown no interest in departing for Liverpool - while the retirement of Toni Kroos has been keenly felt.

Robert Andrich, a teammate of Wirtz with both Leverkusen and Germany, has admitted he feels the 21-year-old is ready to star on the biggest stages.

He told Sky: "I'm pretty sure that [Wirtz] is ready for the next step. Whether now or the summer after next is up in the air.

"But he will take the next step, we have to be honest about that. He needs that too. Then no one will be angry, even if we are very sad about it."

The attacking combo of Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe is yet to truly click into life so far this season, but Wirtz's potential arrival would add to the options at the manager's disposal alongside Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga.

Whether that manager is Alonso or current incumbent Carlo Ancelotti remains to be seen. The Italian has enjoyed great success since returning for a second spell as Los Blancos manager in 2021, but the Spanish giants are said to be monitoring Alonso with the view to making him their new boss next year.

For the meantime, the former Liverpool midfielder will hope to close the gap on Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga after the November international break, with nine points separating the leaders and the reigning champions.

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