Bayer Leverkusen chief Simon Rolfes says they're confident of coach Xabi Alonso's commitment.

Xabi has been linked with Tottenham and former club Real Madrid in recent days.

But Rolfes said: "He has a contract with us, he is happy, he likes working here, he has a good team to develop. Even in the last press conference he said that he is 100% here with his head.

"We started very badly and we decided to change, with new impulses, new energy. If you are in a club there is a scouting department for players, but an eye on the coach market must always be there because we never know when it's a certain phase of change.

"So we started from scratch, Xabi Alonso has always been on our generic list, but we talked about the idea and the philosophy. We all thought it was a good match."

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Key Knicks forward ruled out for Game 7 vs. Pacers
Pacers' Pascal Siakam leads team to Game 6 win vs. Knicks
Watch: Matt Duchene's 2OT winner sends Stars to conference final
Scottie Scheffler shoots improbable 66 after warming up for PGA Championship in a jail cell
Report: Tua Tagovailoa away from Dolphins amid contract chatter
Nuggets star has worrying comment about latest injury
Paul Skenes makes incredible Wrigley Field history in second-career MLB start
Giants rookie CF to undergo season-ending labrum surgery
Yankees' Juan Soto reacts to Hal Steinbrenner contract talk
Late goal sends Panthers to Eastern Conference Finals
Ex-teammate of Shohei Ohtani placed bets with same illegal bookmaker as interpreter 
Former Rams first-round pick retires from NFL after 11 seasons
Insider provides major injury update on Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis
Watch: Bruins strike first in Game 6 with incredible backhand goal
Dodgers make series of moves involving notable players
Hurricanes not expected to re-sign defenseman, center
Maple Leafs tab former Stanley Cup winner as new head coach
NFL insider expands on competition between Steelers QBs Russell Wilson, Justin Fields
NFL sets outrageous prices for Eagles-Packers Brazil game
Broncos 'very unlikely' to bring back former NFL interceptions leader

Want more news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.