Chelsea locker room stance on Xabi Alonso appointment as board accepts job demands
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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesXabi AlonsoChelsea players reportedly back Xabi Alonso as the club's next head coach, with the board open to his demands as talks progress toward a potential appointment after the seasonXabi Alonso is edging closer to becoming Chelsea head coach(Image: Getty Images)Chelsea is reportedly edging closer to a major managerial decision, with strong dressing room support for Xabi Alonso as talks over a potential appointment continue.Alonso has been out of work since his departure from Real Madrid in January, with expectations that he will return to management this summer. Positive movement is said to have emerged behind the scenes after the Stamford Bridge side made initial contact with the 44-year-old, exploring his availability for the head coach role.With Liverpool expected to retain Arne Slot despite a lackluster campaign, Chelsea is believed to be moving to capitalize on the situation as it continues its search following managerial changes involving Liam Rosenior and Enzo Maresca earlier in the campaign.READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news and rumors today LIVE: Bradley Barcola latest as Chelsea target Xabi AlonsoREAD MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold agreement reached as ex-Liverpool star already outlined return planAccording to the Guardian, Chelsea players view Alonso as the standout candidate to take over as head coach, with growing belief inside the dressing room that the former Bayer Leverkusen boss is the right figure to stabilize the team and restore consistency.Alonso is understood to be the leading contender for the role, although he is not the only name under consideration.The shortlist also includes Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner and former Flamengo manager Filipe Luis.
The process is expected to gather pace after Chelsea’s FA Cup Final clash with Manchester City on Saturday.Chelsea players believe Alonso is the right choiceAlonso has made it clear he will not take charge at Chelsea without strong guarantees, particularly regarding his influence in recruitment decisions under the club’s BlueCo ownership structure.The Spaniard is understood to be seeking greater control over transfer strategy and player signings than was typically granted to previous managers.However, indications suggest Chelsea is prepared to accommodate those demands as talks over a potential appointment continue.Chelsea has been monitoring Alonso’s managerial development since he began his coaching career at Leverkusen in 2022, and has reportedly been positioning itself in anticipation of him becoming available.If Chelsea can reach an agreement with Alonso, it is expected to provide a significant boost to dressing-room morale following internal frustration over recent managerial changes, including the departure of Maresca.Rosenior also struggled to fully win over the squad, with performances reportedly dipping before his dismissal.Players are said to believe the next head coach must command immediate respect and manage strong personalities within the group, with Alonso viewed as fitting that profile. His potential arrival is also seen as aligning with a wider recruitment shift, as Chelsea looks to add leadership and experience to a youthful squad.A clinical striker remains the top priority to address long-standing goalscoring issues, alongside the addition of an experienced center-back.
Club figures also believe Alonso’s reputation could be influential in persuading top targets to join Stamford Bridge.Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCXabi AlonsoChelsea FC