Chelsea are stepping up their pursuit of Xabi Alonso, but the Spaniard is demanding concrete assurances about the project before putting pen to paper at Stamford Bridge. The 44-year-old is the favourite to replace Liam Rosenior but is wary after a difficult spell in the Spanish capital, with talks said to have progressed significantly in the past week.
The former Real Madrid boss left the Bernabeu earlier this year after just seven months, due to player power issues and wider problems. He is understandably wary of repeating that bruising experience. Alonso is reported to feel that the Chelsea squad largely aligns with his football philosophy, though he is mindful of the instability that has dogged the west London club in recent seasons.
This summer, he has reportedly been seeking reassurances over the club’s transfer plans, with the defensive line his main concern. Crucially, he feels that Chelsea must sign two new centre-backs ahead of next season.
This basically opens the door for Chelsea, who have been working hard on the deal since late April. But you can understand Alonso’s call for guarantees given Chelsea’s recent dug-out record. Since the consortium took over in 2022, Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca, and now Rosenior have all taken charge of BlueCo, with the rapid managerial carousel continuing to spin. Rosenior is the latest casualty, having lost five Premier League games in a row without scoring.
One of Alonso’s main demands is to have full control of the squad and key sporting decisions, similar to the project Luis Enrique has at Paris Saint-Germain, which is what Alonso wants to create at Chelsea. The Blues’ owners have reportedly accepted that they will have to give the Spaniard more control over transfers if they are to secure his signature before mid-June.
Chelsea Seeking Backup Options If Alonso Deal Falls Through
Alonso is still the number one choice, but Chelsea have not put all their eggs in one basket. The club have drawn up a shortlist of five names with Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola – who will leave the Cherries at the end of this season – among the other candidates being seriously considered for the role.
Fulham boss Marco Silva remains in the frame as well, with Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner having been talked about behind closed doors. Cesc Fabregas is also in the frame as a contingency option, but these are backup plans, with Alonso firmly the priority for BlueCo.
Chelsea are hoping to appoint their new manager by mid-June, giving the club just weeks to get something concrete done before the FIFA World Cup kicks off this summer.