Bayern Munich SACK Thomas Tuchel – but will let him stay in charge until the summer – amid a 12-man squad split on struggling manager… and will now rival Liverpool for Xabi Alonso

Bayern Munich have decided to part ways with manager Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season amid their disastrous run of form.

It has been a tough few weeks for Bayern after suffering a 3-0 defeat to leaders Bayern Leverkusen on Sunday, a 1-0 defeat to Lazio in the Champions League and a disastrous 3-2 defeat to VFL Bochum.

The club now face the prospect of their first season without winning a trophy since 2011/12, with Leverkusen eight points ahead of Bayern in the Bundesliga and have parted ways with Tuchel with that in mind.

In a statement on the club’s website, Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said on Wednesday: ‘In an open, good discussion we have come to the decision to mutually end our cooperation in the summer.

‘Our goal is to implement a sporting realignment with a new coach for the 2024-2025 season. Until then, every individual within the club is emphatically challenged to get the most out of the Champions League and the Bundesliga.

Bayern have suffered three defeats in a row, losing 3-2 to VFL Bochum last weekend, and are on the verge of failing to win a trophy this season.

‘I also hold the team explicitly responsible. Especially in the Champions League, we are convinced that after the 0-1 defeat in the first leg against Lazio Rome, with our fans behind us, we will advance to the quarter-finals in the second leg in our fully occupied Allianz Arena.’

Meanwhile, Tuchel also reflected on the decision, as he said: ‘We have agreed that we will end our partnership after this season. Until then, I and my coaching team will of course continue to do everything we can to ensure maximum success.’

The former Chelsea boss – who only joined the club in March 2023 – has a contract that runs until June 2025, but the Bavarian side have opted to shorten that by a year.

In the meantime, BIL claim Bayern star Harry Kane is at the center of a dressing room rift in Munich as Tuchel’s reign in Bavaria continues to crumble.

The report claims that six key figures – including Thomas Müller, Serge Gnabry and Leon Goretzka – fall into an anti-Tuchel camp, while six others support him.

Kane, Eric Dier and Leroy Sane are all part of the group of players who endorse Tuchel’s authority at Bayern.

In the meantime, The Athletics claim Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso is Bayern’s top target to replace the German boss.

Alonso, who has a contract until June 2026, was appointed by Leverkusen in October 2022 and steered them out of the drop zone to sixth place in his first season. This campaign, Leverkusen remains undefeated in the top flight.

He played for Bayern under Pep Guardiola between 2014 and 2017, winning three Bundesliga titles, one German Cup and one German Super Cup.

Bayern Munich are considering replacements for Thomas Tuchel if he is fired

Xabi Alonso is on the club’s shortlist, with Bayer Leverkusen eight points ahead in the Bundesliga

After Jurgen Klopp sensationally announced he would step down as Liverpool head coach at the end of the season, Alonso is among the favorites for the vacancy.

Also on the shortlist is former head coach Hansi Flick, who is seen as an emergency replacement. Flick, 58, won the Bundesliga twice and the Champions League during his trophy-laden spell from 2019 to 2021.

On Tuesday, Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen gave a cryptic answer when asked about the future of under-pressure manager Tuchel.

Dreesen said the controversial head coach would not be fired, telling BILD: ‘I don’t believe in big statements about the coach. This matter (Tuchel’s dismissal) does not concern us at the moment.”

Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen (R) emphasized that Tuchel’s departure was not “in our thoughts”.

Tuchel was unveiled as the club’s new manager in March 2023, taking over from Julian Nagelsmann, who was ruthlessly sacked by the club during a skiing holiday.

The ex-Chelsea boss led them to the Bundesliga title in 2023, taking the trophy from their rivals Borussia Dortmund on the final day of the season.

But Bayern have struggled so far this season, with the Bavarian team falling off the pace of Bayern Leverkusen. They also face the tough challenge of overturning a 1-0 deficit against Lazio in their upcoming Champions League round of 16 tie.

Alarm bells were initially ringing after Bayern crashed out of the cup after being beaten by German third division side Saarbrücken in November.