Chelsea are hoping to appoint their next head coach shortly after the FA Cup final and are becoming increasingly optimistic of it being Xabi Alonso.
It has become clear in recent days that the former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss is the frontrunner for the vacant post at Stamford Bridge.
Standard Sport understands that ex-Liverpool midfielder Alonso has emerged as Chelsea’s preferred candidate following talks.
The Blues have been eager not to rush the process but it is now expected to accelerate after Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley, for which interim head coach Calum McFarlane remains in charge.
The process to replace Liam Rosenior began immediately after his sacking following only three months in charge in April and has involved Chelsea speaking with various candidates, with between five to six seriously considered.
Alonso is chief among them. The outgoing Bournemouth and Crystal Palace managers, Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner, are also candidates, and Chelsea have also spoken with Fulham boss Marco Silva.
The ex-Flamengo manager Filipe Luis, a former Chelsea player, also has admirers at Stamford Bridge.
It is felt internally at Chelsea that the squad would have an immediate level of respect for what Alonso has achieved in a glittering playing career and an encouraging first few years in management if he were to land the job.
Alonso is said to be open to the prospect of working at Chelsea but has been seeking assurances from the club over the past week. He had already set his sights on this summer as an appropriate time to get back into management after leaving Madrid after only seven months in January.
Many Liverpool fans would like to see him considered for the top job at Anfield but there are no signs currently of the club moving on from Arne Slot despite a difficult season.
Palace view Iraola as their favoured candidate to replace Glasner, and if Chelsea manage to convince Alonso to join, it would remove one of the Eagles’ rivals from the equation in their hopes of convincing him to move to Selhurst Park.
