30 Apr 2026 21:02 BST |
4 min read
Xabi Alonso is reportedly open to becoming Chelsea’s new manager on one condition after a reported ‘betrayal’ by Liverpool.
Alonso has been out of work since being sacked by Real Madrid in January but the Spanish coach has already been hot in demand, with Chelsea reportedly seeing him as a top candidate for their recently-vacated post.
Having played for Liverpool during his career and being touted to become manager prior to Arne Slot’s appointment in 2024, Alonso has continued to be hotly linked with the job at Anfield amid the club’s disappointing season.
But it is believed that Slot will keep his job this summer and be given more time to turn Liverpool’s fortunes around after winning the club the Premier League in his debut campaign.
That has disappointed Alonso, Football365 claim, with the 44-year-old now ‘forced’ to consider options such as Chelsea or Saudi Arabia, despite a belief from some that a ‘verbal agreement’ was in place for him to take over at Liverpool in the summer.
Alonso has now opened the door to joining Chelsea following Liam Rosenior’s sacking last week, although there are still details to resolve if the Blues are to convince him to become their new manager.
Alonso wants ‘more control’ to take Chelsea job
According to reporter Simon Phillips, Alonso would be ‘interested’ in the Chelsea job only if he can ‘have a bit more control’ than what the club are currently offering new managers.
Chelsea’s transfer policy has come under much scrutiny, with the club having spent nearly €2 billion on players since the Clearlake takeover led by Todd Boehly in 2022 and preferring to sign young, unproven talents instead of experienced elite players.
The policy has led to recent managers such as Mauricio Pochettino and Enzo Maresca leaving prematurely due to disagreements with the board, although Chelsea are understood to be revising their strategy after the departure of Rosenior.
Alonso is one of many names being considered for the Chelsea job, with the likes of Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva also expected to hold talks with the club in the summer as the process for a sixth permanent manager in four years begins.
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