Signing Xabi Alonso, according to Bayern Munich, “will be difficult, if not impossible.”

Uli Hoeness, the honorary president of Bayern Munich, said on Thursday that it was “probably impossible” to sign in-demand manager Xabi Alonso to the team.

The coach of Bayer Leverkusen, who played for three years in Munich, is Bayern’s top choice to succeed Thomas Tuchel, who is set to step down in the summer.

With eight games remaining, Alonso’s Leverkusen are leading the Bundesliga by ten points and are aiming for their first-ever league championship.

Leverkusen, which has won 34 games and drawn four this season, is still undefeated and is in the German Cup semifinals as well as the last eight of the Europa League.

Hoeness said on Bavarian television that Alonso was desired by Bayern but that he would likely remain at Leverkusen after the current campaign.

It remains to be seen whether we can pull it off this year. It’ll be challenging, if not certainly unachievable,” he said.

The German champions “value Xabi Alonso extremely,” according to the Bayern powerbroker who, as an administrator and subsequently as president, built the team into an international powerhouse.

Given their recent achievements, Alonso is more likely to remain at Bayer Leverkusen since he would hate to leave them behind.

“Let’s say it was easier to get him out of there if he had two or three more years of success.”

Alonso has been connected to Real Madrid, Bayern, and Liverpool, where he played for a while.