Premier League giants Chelsea have received a massive boost in their pursuit of former Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso.
Chelsea are on the lookout for their next manager after having parted ways with Liam Rosenior. The Blues are looking at a number of options ahead of the summer, as they want to ensure they make the right appointment.
While Andoni Iraola remains a top target, Xabi Alonso is emerging as a very attractive option for the Chelsea board. According to a report from Fussballdaten, the former Real Madrid boss has a good chance of getting the job at Stamford Bridge.
Alonso made quite a name for himself as a manager with his work at Bayer Leverkusen. It helped him secure the Real Madrid job last summer. However, he couldn’t survive long on the Madrid bench. While he didn’t really do much wrong, there was a lot of tension behind the scenes with the squad, and it led to his dismissal at the start of the new year.
The Spanish manager has been without a job since and is waiting for the perfect opportunity to return to management. While he has been linked with a move back to the Bundesliga, there are high chances of him making the move to England, amidst interest from Chelsea.
The Blues appointed Liam Rosenior mid-season after sacking Enzo Maresca. While they handed him a long-term deal on the back of his work at their sister club RC Strasbourg, Rosenior could only survive a couple of months at Stamford Bridge.
A run of five straight defeats in the Premier League without scoring a single goal brought an end to his stint. Calum McFarlane has taken charge of the London club on an interim basis, as the club look for the ideal candidate ahead of the summer.
Chelsea are keen on Xabi Alonso
Bournemouth’s Iraola tops their wishlist. He has proven Premier League experience, and since he is leaving the Cherries at the end of the season, he will be available for free. However, they do have another top name on their wishlist, former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.
He might not have managed in the Premier League, but he has done wonders in the league as a player, and his work at Leverkusen gives a decent idea of what he is capable of. The Chelsea board admire him a lot, and they consider him an ideal fit for their young squad.
Alonso seems interested in a move to England, and he has emerged as a very attractive option for the London club. It will be interesting to see if he does end up at Stamford Bridge, as there is no shortage of interest in him.