Xabi Alonso’s appointment as Real Madrid manager has been billed as a “done deal” by multiple reports.

The Bayer Leverkusen manager, whose exit from the club was confirmed on Friday, has long been regarded as the only suitable candidate to succeed at the Spanish giants if Carlo Ancelotti were to depart. After a lackluster European performance and two losses to Barcelona in different finals, Real Madrid’s most successful coach ever is anticipated to resign at the season’s conclusion.

MARCA were the first to report that an agreement for Alonso had finally been struck. The former Madrid midfielder is said to have been handed a three-year contract and will be joined by his assistant manager Sebas Parrilla and fitness coach Alberto Encinas.

Ancelotti will reportedly part ways with Madrid on 25 May, after overseeing the club’s final La Liga match of the campaign. Fabrizio Romano claims that Alonso will officially put pen to paper once his predecessor’s departure is finalised.

Sky Sport Germany‘s Florian Plettenberg echoes those reports and also provides an enticing list of candidates to replace Alonso at Leverkusen. Former Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag is a name which has been floated, alongside ex-Barcelona midfielders Xavi Hernandez and Cesc Fabregas together with Real Madrid youth team coach Alvaro Arbeloa.

MARCA reiterate the idea that Alonso will only take over after this summer’s Club World Cup, potentially as late as the end of July. Santiago Solari, Madrid’s current director of football who has previously overseen 32 games from the dugout, has been widely tipped to serve as an interim coach, bridging the gap between Ancelotti and Alonso.

Any major squad overhaul has been described as “not necessary” by MARCA. It’s also not financially viable for Real Madrid, whose directors and – as ever – club president Florentino Perez will have the final say on all transfers. Alonso is said to be afforded some role in the recruitment strategy and has already identified certain areas of the pitch which need strengthening.

On the opposite side to the incoming Trent Alexander-Arnold, steps have already been taken to snap up a new left-back. Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen is widely billed as the leading candidate to bolster the centre of Madrid’s defence, while there has also been talk of a new midfielder.

Alonso’s talismanic playmaker at Bayer Leverkusen, Florian Wirtz, is thought to be at the top of the incoming manager’s transfer wishlist for Madrid. Bayern Munich are also openly interested in the German international while Manchester City haven’t yet given up hope of making him Kevin De Bruyne’s long-term successor.