After all the talk and speculation around Xabi Alonso over the last few days, Chelsea fans were left worried that things could fall apart as Liverpool lost 4-2 against Aston Villa. Several journalists have maintained that Arne Slot’s position is safe. But we all know how quickly things change in football. The same things were said about Liam Rosenior in the weeks leading up to his sacking.
Fortunately, now, it looks like there is something substantial when it comes to the Blues’ managerial search. According to an exclusive report from Graeme Bailey on TEAMtalk, Chelsea are closing in on the appointment of Alonso after the Spaniard agreed terms in principle.
The report further explains that Alonso has now agreed in principle to become Chelsea’s next head coach. But there are several structural details that still need to be finalised before any announcement can be made.
The discussions with Alonso right now are said to be centred around how he would integrate into the club’s existing sporting structure.
More positive updates on Alonso to Chelsea
It is said that Alonso is not demanding total control over recruitment or football operations. In the past, some other outlets had suggested that it was the case. But it looks like that was off the mark.
Instead, it looks like the Spanish manager believes that this team requires only targeted additions in order to become genuine title contenders again. Even then, Chelsea are said to be willing to adjust their structure in order to address the remaining concerns and convince Alonso.
All of this is very positive. If an appointment does not end up happening from here, it would be a major blow for Chelsea. Personally, I feel that the Liverpool situation might still be worth keeping an eye on.
Alonso would be the club’s most high-profile appointment since BlueCo takeover
It is safe to say that there is a lot more positivity around Alonso than any of the previous appointments that the club have made since the BlueCo takeover.
Graham Potter was brought in place of Champions League-winning boss, Thomas Tuchel, and never really got going. Mauricio Pochettino was not the most popular appointment either, largely due to history with Tottenham Hotspur.
Enzo Maresca ended up earning his plaudits but he was coming in from the Championship, and fans were not convinced. And there is not much that needs to be said about the decision to hire Rosenior from sister club Strasbourg.
For the first time, BlueCo seem to be going out of their way and hiring a high-profile manager. Let’s see if it works out or not.
Sourav Mahanty
Sourav Mahanty has covered teams like Chelsea, Celtic, Real Madrid, Manchester United, PSG and more over a career that has now lasted a decade. His work has been featured on Sports Illustrated, Athlon Sports, SB Nation, FanSided, The Sportster and aggregated through Bleacher Report and NewsNow. Outside of football, he is also interested in basketball, cricket and professional wrestling.
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