Xabi Alonso has been in talks with Chelsea over the last week about the vacant managerial role, and the Blues are trying to tweak their club policies to convince him to join.
After Liam Rosenior’s failed stint in charge, the club need a figure who will command the dressing room and provide results on the pitch that will start to get supporters back on board.
Glen Johnson thinks Xabi Alonso would be respected by the squad if he was brought in, and his credentials from his time in Bayer Leverkusen suggests trophies could be on the agenda.
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Some clubs seem to have given up on their own hopes of bringing in the Spaniard because of Chelsea’s interest in him. Italian media believe AC Milan now have no chance of hiring him.
Simon Phillips has reported that Chelsea have continued talks with Alonso about the job, and as of now he has not walked away from the club.
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He said on his Substack that Chelsea are offering Alonso more control over the first team squad, something he has requested in the early stages of discussions.
He said: “Overall, as reported yesterday, Chelsea have been finding it very hard to convince manager targets to come. And we’ve heard that some managers have already rejected their approaches.
“However, Alonso has not walked away from talks yet, but does need a lot of convincing and promises in order to take the role. Chelsea are offering Alonso more control, which is what he has asked for. He’s also been asking around recruitment, especially centre backs, and who they will be looking to bring in.
“There is a lot of planning and Alonso is insisting that if he is to take the role, then he needs much more of a say than previous managers have had, and more assurances overall around the project and the flexibility on it all.
“At the moment, Chelsea are working to give those assurances to Alonso, and see him as the main target they want in.”
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Chelsea’s list of candidates is dwindling
The unattractive state Chelsea currently find themselves in has made convincing a manager to take over a difficult task.
Names such as Fabian Hurzeler and Edin Terzic are already off the table, and the club have rejected reports that they made an approach to hire Xavi.
The other realistic candidates include Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva. The former is set to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season.
The Chelsea owners are feeling the pressure ahead of the next managerial appointment, knowing full well that fan feeling towards them is at an all-time low.
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