Chelsea make decision over next manager but fear Liverpool will scupper plans

Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso has emerged as the ‘early preferred choice’ to become the next Chelsea manager, according to reports.

Chelsea are searching for their next permanent manager after sacking Liam Rosenior last month.

Rosenior only arrived at Stamford Bridge in January following Enzo Maresca’s departure but last just 106 days before he too was axed.

Premier League managers Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva emerged as two of the early candidates to take over at Chelsea, who lost their last five Premier League games under Rosenior without scoring a goal.

But the Daily Mail say Liverpool icon and former Real Madrid manager Alonso is also under consideration by Chelsea.

It is even claimed that Alonso, 44, is emerging as the ‘preferred choice’ of some decision-makers at Stamford Bridge.

Alonso enjoyed huge success at his first managerial role with Bayer Leverkusen, leading the German club to a stunning Bundesliga title in 2024.

Impressing at Leverkusen earned Alonso a move to European giants Real Madrid, where he spent five years as a player, winning La Liga and the Champions League.

Alonso was hoping for similar success at the Bernabeu as a player but left the club after just seven months by mutual consent.

Four months after his departure from Real Madrid, Alonso is ‘ready’ to resume his managerial career, according to Fabrizio Romano.

It is claimed the Spain legend is ‘very open’ to opportunities around Europe if he can find the right project.

Whether he would be willing to take over Chelsea remains to be seen given his allegiances to Liverpool, where he spent five years as a player and won the Champions League.

Another issue for Chelsea is Liverpool have been strongly linked with a move for Alonso as pressure grows on under-fire manager Arne Slot.

Slot’s side have produced a dismal title defence this season and were booed off after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea.

Reports have suggested Liverpool are set to back Slot and give him more time to turn things around but a large section of fans want the Dutchman gone and would welcome the return of club legend Alonso.

Speaking after Liverpool’s recent draw with Chelsea, Joe Cole said Alonso would ‘light up’ Anfield – though he believes Slot deserves more time.

‘The club usually stick by their manager,’ Cole told TNT Sports. ‘People have said that Jurgen Klopp won Arne Slot the league last season, but it was Slot’s team.

‘There have been circumstances, some of it tragic, then they’ve had issues with the new signings. Alexander Isak started poorly, Florian Wirtz hasn’t settled, Hugo Ekitike has been injured, and we’ve seen the difference between Mohamed Salah this and last season.

‘There’s been so many factors, but I always come back to that fact that Xabi Alonso is available. That’s the one thing that’s always hanging there, and he might not be available again.

‘We saw what he did at Bayer Leverkusen. It didn’t work out at Real Madrid, but, of course, Arne Slot should stay. Alonso is there, and this place would light up again with him in the hotseat.’

While Liverpool have endured a difficult season, they remain six places and ten points above a Chelsea side who suffered six straight league defeats before the Anfield stalemate.

Chelsea face Manchester City in the FA Cup final next weekend, while Liverpool visit top-four rivals Aston Villa.

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