Bayer Leverkusen's chief executive Fernand Carro is confident Xabi Alonso will remain with the club heading into next season.

Alonso led Leverkusen to an undefeated Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double last season.

Indeed, Leverkusen's only loss of the entire campaign came in the Europa League final against Atalanta.

They have not scaled the same heights this season, though they have lost just one Bundesliga match and are into the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal and last 16 of the Champions League.

On Saturday they host league leaders Bayern Munich, who they trail by eight points.

Alonso has been linked to some huge clubs across Europe, with Real Madrid touted as suitors, but expects the Spaniard to stay put for now.

"He has a contract until next year," Carro told reporters.

"We assume that he will be here next year."

On Leverkusen's season so far, Carro said: "It is definitely a big relief [to have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League].

"It would have been another trip this week and that would have been tough.

"With the success of last year we want to be closer to number one in the Bundesliga, but that's complaining on a high level."