Jobless for only five days, Xabi Alonso already has a serious offer on the table

Xabi Alonso left a deep mark on the Bundesliga, so it came as no surprise that the first call he received after his departure from Real Madrid carried a German dialling code.

What Alonso achieved at Bayer Leverkusen was miraculous. He delivered the club's first Bundesliga title in history, a feat that opened the doors of the Bernabeu and seemed like the perfect springboard for a return to Madrid.

However, Real Madrid is a ruthless machine: those who fail to find their footing immediately are swallowed whole.

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Germany, however, has not forgotten. Nor have they ignored what the Spanish coach built there. And so, just days after leaving Madrid, Alonso already has his first concrete offer on the table - from Frankfurt.

Eintracht parted ways with head coach Dino Toppmoller on Saturday following a dramatic 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen. Almost instantly, sporting director Markus Krosche went on the offensive. According to Bild, Xabi Alonso has been identified as the top target to lead the Eagles forward.

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The key question now is whether Alonso is willing to lower his standards. Eintracht are Champions League participants, but with slim chances of progressing, and currently sit only seventh in the Bundesliga. Worse still, their defensive record is among the poorest in the league, with 39 goals conceded so far. Still, the gap to the Champions League places is not insurmountable, and there is time to turn the season around.

On the other hand, Alonso's name continues to circulate across Europe. Liverpool, in particular, are often mentioned as a possible destination should Arne Slot's position weaken. Yet for now, Frankfurt are the first club to make a real, tangible move - the first offer that actually exists on paper.