Chelsea's players are convinced that Xabi Alonso is the perfect candidate to become their next head coach, as talks with the Spaniard's representatives continue to advance. The mood in the dressing room strongly suggests that the former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager is the right person to restore the team's fortunes.
No formal agreement has been reached, and Chelsea remain open to other possibilities as they search for a permanent replacement for Liam Rosenior, who was dismissed after just 106 days in charge. Alonso leads the shortlist, which also includes Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, Fulham's Marco Silva, Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner, and former Flamengo boss Filipe Luís. Cesc Fàbregas has indicated he wishes to remain at Como.
The process is expected to accelerate following Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester City. Chelsea have monitored Alonso's career since he began managing at Bayer Leverkusen in 2022 and have been waiting for the right moment to bring him in. Alonso, who guided Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title in 2024, has been out of work since leaving Madrid in January.
The 44-year-old is determined to learn from his time at Real Madrid, where he lasted only 34 games after failing to win over key dressing-room figures. Chelsea are seeking their sixth permanent manager since the BlueCo takeover in 2022, but Alonso is not deterred by the club's instability. He is said to want assurances on certain matters, including involvement in transfer decisions, and indications are that Chelsea intend to accommodate his requests.
The club's recruitment structure will not be overhauled—Chelsea employ five sporting directors, led by Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart—but there is recognition that a manager of Alonso's stature must be heard regarding signings. Chelsea have no desire to impose players on him.
Securing Alonso would boost dressing-room morale. Influential players have expressed discontent following Enzo Maresca's departure. While Maresca was highly regarded, Rosenior struggled to convince the squad, with performances declining before his sacking. The players believe the next manager must command respect and manage strong personalities, and Alonso appears to fit that description.
Alonso was one of the finest midfielders of his generation, winning multiple honours including Champions League titles with Liverpool and Real Madrid, domestic trophies with Bayern Munich, and being a key member of Spain's golden era that claimed two European Championships and the World Cup between 2008 and 2012.
His reputation is expected to be an asset when convincing players to join Chelsea. There is growing belief within the industry that a deal will be finalised, especially as Liverpool have not contacted Alonso and are likely to retain Arne Slot.
Chelsea's pursuit of Alonso has boosted Crystal Palace's hopes of landing Iraola, who is leaving Bournemouth. However, Palace fear missing out if Iraola is offered the Chelsea job. Glasner will step down after the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano.
Reece James is set to return to Chelsea's starting lineup for the Cup final. The captain made his comeback as a 63rd-minute substitute in the 1-1 draw at Liverpool last Saturday, having been sidelined since March 14 with a hamstring injury. James played in midfield alongside Moisés Caicedo and experienced no adverse reaction. Interim head coach Calum McFarlane confirmed James trained well all week, a boost for both Chelsea and England ahead of the World Cup. James is Thomas Tuchel's first-choice right-back.
McFarlane started James in midfield during his first caretaker spell at City in January, a match that ended 1-1 with James impressing. McFarlane also reported that Robert Sánchez, Pedro Neto, and Alejandro Garnacho are available after injuries, while Estêvão Willian and Jamie Gittens remain out. "We were confident that Reece was able to play those minutes in Liverpool," McFarlane said. "He came through them well and has trained well this week. We're really hopeful he can finish the season in that sort of form."
