From everything that we have read and heard over the past 24 hours, it feels like Xabi Alonso is clearly the man that Chelsea want to be their next manager. Obviously, nobody has come out and directly said that. There is still a possibility that they could miss out. That would be a bad look for BlueCo, who are already under immense pressure. So, it has always been maintained that nothing is decided and it is still an ongoing process.
Reading between the lines though, it looks like Alonso has emerged as the clear frontrunner. Now, it comes down to being able to convince him.
There have been some positive noises regarding that lately as well. It has been suggested that Alonso wants his next job to be in England. Reports have also claimed that he is open to the prospect of managing Chelsea.
But unfortunately, Chelsea might not be his first choice when it comes to a move to the Premier League. In fact, he might be waiting to see if his top pick will open up.
Xabi Alonso seems to prefer Liverpool over Chelsea
According to a report from Pete Hall in The i Paper, Chelsea want Alonso as their next manager. The Spaniard is yet to make a decision in case his preferred destination becomes available.
Arne Slot is expected to continue on as Liverpool manager. But sources close to Alonso say that he wants to wait and see if that situation changes.
If the report is accurate then Liverpool might be his destination of choice. That idea might not go down well with a lot of Chelsea fans. But if you think about it, it is understandable and somewhat expected.
BlueCo owners must convince Alonso
Liverpool have shown that they can compete at the highest level under this ownership. And he also played for the club quite successfully. The same cannot be said about Chelsea.
Now, it is up to Chelsea to convince Alonso to take the job. After all the news that has broken out over the past 24 hours, it is quite clear that there is substance to the speculation. If they fail from here, it will not go down well with a fanbase that has already given up on BlueCo to begin with.
How far are we when it comes to this process? That is the question here. Have Chelsea advanced to where a deal is not far away? Or are we just at the point where the interest has been solidified?
