“I don’t want to talk about speculation and rumours. [I understand] that this is happening, but what’s more important to me is what’s happening right now.”

Leverkusen chief executive Fernando Carro said last week that Alonso was “comfortable” at the club and already planning for next season.

Alonso was linked with Real, Liverpool and Bayern Munich last year, but told a news conference in March he wanted to stay at Leverkusen following talks with the club’s hierarchy.

The former Liverpool and Spain midfielder won La Liga and the Champions League during a six-season spell as a Madrid player between 2009 and 2014.

Alonso retired as a player following a three-year spell at Bayern Munich in 2017.

He moved into coaching with Real Madrid’s Under-14 side the following year, before three years in charge of Real Sociedad’s B team.

In October 2022, Leverkusen gave him his first managerial role in first-team football and, having taken over with the club second from bottom in the Bundesliga, led them to a sixth-placed finish.

Last season he guided Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title and the German Cup in impressive fashion. They also reached the Europa League final but lost 3-0 to Atalanta – their only defeat in 53 games in all competitions.