Chelsea optimistic about luring Xabi Alonso but are also eyeing Andoni Iraola

Chelsea have held encouraging discussions over a move for Xabi Alonso but are keeping their options open and are closely monitoring Andoni Iraola’s situation.

The west London club are looking for a permanent head coach and it is understood that Alonso and Iraola have emerged as the top picks for the role. Other managers are still under consideration, though, and Chelsea are not expected to rush a final decision on who to appoint.

Chelsea, who made Calum McFarlane interim head coach until the end of the season after firing Liam Rosenior last month, have also looked at Fulham’s Marco Silva, Crystal Palace’s Olivier Glasner and the former Flamengo manager Filipe Luís. Silva is out of contract at the end of the season and Glasner will leave Palace after the Conference League final later this month.

The Stamford Bridge hierarchy is confident of attracting their favoured candidate and there is optimism over how early talks with Alonso’s camp have gone. The 44-year-old, who announced himself as one of the best young managers in Europe when he won the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024, has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid earlier this season and has been on Chelsea’s radar for at least three years.

There is a feeling inside Chelsea that Alonso’s style of play would make him suited to their young squad. The former Spain midfielder’s standing within the game would help him control the dressing room and could also help with attracting players to the club.

The unknown is whether Alonso decides to move to England now or opts to take a break. But suggestions that he is waiting to see if the Liverpool role becomes open soon have been downplayed. The current sense is that the Merseysiders will stick with Arne Slot this summer, although that is yet to be confirmed. Alonso is fondly remembered at Liverpool after playing for them between 2004 and 2009, winning the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup the following year.

Chelsea entered a period of “self-reflection” after Rosenior was fired three and a half months after replacing Enzo Maresca. Something that has been acknowledged by the recruitment department is the need for the team to become more physical. That heightens the appeal of Iraola, whose Bournemouth side are one of the most intense in the Premier League.

Chelsea have met Iraola to talk to him about the role. There is respect for the Spaniard’s work with Bournemouth and a sense that he is more than capable of taking on a big job. Iraola has responded to Bournemouth losing a number of key players in defence and attack during the past year by putting them in contention for Champions League qualification. The south coast club are four points off the top five with two games left. It is understood that Iraola has also met with Manchester United, although the current indications are that they will stick with Michael Carrick.