26 Apr 2026 13:53 BST |
4 min read
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is keen on becoming the new Chelsea manager, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Blues are once again in the market for a new permanent manager following the sacking of Liam Rosenior on Wednesday and they have shortlisted a number of potential options for the role.
The likes of Xabi Alonso, Marco Silva, Xavi and Julian Nagelsmann have all been linked with the vacant job at Stamford Bridge over the past few days, while Jose Mourinho has even been tipped for a sensational third spell at the club following an excellent campaign in charge of Benfica.
Hiring a manager with proven experience is understood to be a key criteria for the Chelsea hierarchy and Iraola is understood to be among their top targets following confirmation that he will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season.
The Cherries boss had initially been expected to become the new Athletic Club manager, following his lengthy spell with the Spanish outfit as a player, but Edin Terzic has agreed to take the role instead and a move to Chelsea could therefore be on the cards instead, as confirmed by Romano.
“Iraola would be more than happy to continue in the Premier League,” the transfer expert revealed on YouTube. “Iraola would be keen on the possibility of becoming the new Chelsea manager. But, at the moment, Chelsea are still in the early stages. They want to take their time and decide who the ideal candidate is.
“There is still nothing advanced or done with Iraola.”
Cesc Fabregas latest
Meanwhile, Romano has cast doubt on the possibility of Cesc Fabregas returning to Chelsea as their new manager.
The Como boss has emerged as a possible alternative to Iraola, thanks to his stellar stint with the Serie A side and his ties to the Blues, but a deal is reportedly unlikely to occur unless a major u-turn takes place.
“Fabregas is very happy at Como and he is already planning for next season with Como in terms of new signings, tactics and ideas. For sure, Cesc is 100% involved in the Como project,” Romano said.
“So we have to see if Chelsea will try and go all-in for Fabregas. My understanding is that Como are convinced they will continue with Fabregas. Como’s feeling is that Cesc will be their manager next season and they hope to be in European football.
“But, it will also depend on what happens at Chelsea. They are yet to decide who will be the new coach. They are considering candidates and they are exploring possibilities, but this process will take some time.”
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