Chelsea is reportedly in discussions with Xabi Alonso's representatives over the possibility of the Spaniard succeeding Liam Rosenior as Blues manager this summer
Matthew Abbott and Charlie Malam
07:53, 12 May 2026
Xabi Alonso, Head Coach of Real Madrid, embraces Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England
Xabi Alonso has been linked with replacing Arne Slot at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Xabi Alonso is reportedly prepared to take the reins at Chelsea this summer, amid speculation linking him with Liverpool. The Spaniard, who departed Real Madrid in January, features on the shortlist as the Blues search for a long-term replacement for Liam Rosenior.
Chelsea has now opened talks with Alonso's representatives, with The Athletic reporting that the 44 year old is attracted by the prospect. Rosenior lasted a mere 106 days at Stamford Bridge as Enzo Maresca's successor, paying the price for a dismal run of results that looks set to cost Chelsea a Champions League place. Yet this appears to have done little to diminish Alonso's appetite for the Stamford Bridge role.
Nevertheless, it is far from certain that the London club will name the former Liverpool midfielder as their preferred candidate. Alonso is one of six names on the shortlist, alongside Cesc Fabregas, Oliver Glasner, Filipe Luis, Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva.
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Glasner is set to leave UEFA Conference League finalists Crystal Palace at the end of the season, while Iraola is also departing Bournemouth this summer, despite the possibility of steering the team into the Champions League, reports the Liverpool Echo.
At present, there is no clear frontrunner to fill the vacancy at Chelsea. Alonso famously guided Bayer Leverkusen to its first ever Bundesliga title during an extraordinary unbeaten 2023-24 campaign, which also brought the DFB Pokal and a Europa League final appearance, where it was beaten by Atalanta.
Alonso has been linked with a potential return to Liverpool amidst speculation surrounding Arne Slot's future at Anfield, with suggestions that the club are already in discussions with his representatives. Slot is facing increasing pressure at Anfield and was met with audible jeers during Saturday's fixture against Chelsea.
Xabi Alonso, head coach of Real Madrid, attends his press conference during the training day of Real Madrid ahead the Spanish League, LaLiga EA Sports, football match against Real Betis Balompie
Xabi Alonso continues to be linked with a return to Liverpool(Image: (Photo By Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images))
The Blues are planning to have a new head coach installed by mid-June. Irrespective of whether they qualify for the Champions League, the club are preparing for a hectic summer and aim to bring in at least a new centre-back, central midfielder and left-sided winger.
For now, the Blues are focused on appointing their next manager. Fabregas is keen to stay at Como, having secured Champions League football for the Serie A outfit, while Iraola and Glasner will have numerous other options available. Silva is also out of contract this summer, although Fulham have put forward a three-year deal to retain him.
Liverpool, meanwhile, insists it has full confidence in the title-winning Dutchman Slot, but there is growing discontent amongst the fanbase.
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Alonso's connections to the Liverpool role stretch back to Jurgen Klopp's announcement that he would be departing, yet it was Slot who eventually secured the position. Alonso is reported to have rejected overtures from his former club before taking the Real Madrid job in the summer of 2025.
"At that time, I was focused, I had a big thing with the Leverkusen players, and we were really focused on that," Alonso later explained when asked about rejecting Liverpool. He said in another interview: "All these decisions, they need to be thorough.
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"You need to really think about them, and it was more about what I had, not what I'm missing. For sure, my bond with Liverpool is there, and it's still there, so there's not any kind of issue with that."