Chelsea are preparing to make a significant shift in their approach to transfers, aiming to entice Xabi Alonso to become their next manager. The club is currently seeking a replacement for Liam Rosenior following the dismissal of Enzo Maresca after his brief 106-day tenure as head coach.
In their search for a new manager, Chelsea have explored several candidates, including Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner, and Marco Silva, all of whom have experience in the Premier League. However, Alonso has emerged as the leading candidate, with reports suggesting that unlike previous managers under the Clearlake regime, he would have a substantial influence on transfer decisions.
The focus on acquiring young talents has not yielded consistent results in recent years, and Alonso is expected to prioritize more experienced players to avoid repeating the mistakes of predecessors like Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino. While he may not have the final say on transfers, his input will carry considerable weight, and discussions are likely to move swiftly following the FA Cup final against Manchester City on Saturday.
A source revealed that “things should move quickly after the final,” with the club hoping to secure an agreement within days or weeks.
Chelsea are willing to overlook Alonso’s unsuccessful stint at Real Madrid, instead highlighting his achievements at Bayer Leverkusen, where he secured a domestic double and reached the Europa League final. His potential to lead the club is seen as a more accurate reflection of his capabilities.
Alonso’s potential appointment at Stamford Bridge could come as a surprise to those who believed he was destined to return to Liverpool. However, the Reds have shown little indication of being ready to part ways with Arne Slot, despite a challenging title defense that saw them fall to a 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa.
Liverpool’s failure to qualify for the Champions League came as a blow, with Aston Villa securing a decisive victory that also served as a fitting send-off for Wednesday’s Europa League final.
Slot acknowledged that supporters may not be optimistic about the future but remains confident that improvements can be made in the upcoming transfer window.
“I can understand at this moment that they don’t have much confidence or feeling that things can be much better next season,” Slot said. “But I think they are underestimating what a window can do, what a new start can do, and I think we know quite well what to improve.”
One area that needs immediate attention, according to Slot, is the loss of key players. “If you miss nine players that can start a game of football, and almost all of them are starters for us or have been for large parts of the season, then adding that to what you can improve in a window and adding that to players that are playing for the second season in the Premier League, that will automatically lead to much more.”
He added, “I don’t think the differences are so big; only doing the right thing in a few situations can already have a massive upwards possibility.”
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