Chelsea are set to make contact with the agents of a former Real Madrid boss who also represent Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, according to The Telegraph.
Chelsea’s search for a new manager is gathering pace again, with the club moving quickly in the background after another turbulent spell in charge for most recent boss Liam Rosenior.
The sense at Stamford Bridge is that this appointment cannot be rushed, but equally cannot afford to drag on too long, with planning already underway for a crucial summer rebuild.
Recent reports suggest the club have already begun sounding out potential candidates, with early conversations and informal approaches forming part of an ongoing evaluation process.
One of the first steps has been making initial contact with Andoni Iraola’s camp, as Chelsea look to understand his availability and long-term intentions.
RMC Sport and Fabrice Hawkins reported last week that Chelsea have already approached the Spaniard’s camp, with football.london’s Bobby Vincent and other sources now backing that up today.
The Bournemouth manager has impressed during his time on the south coast, earning a reputation for organisation, intensity and overachieving with limited resources.
His name is firmly in the frame as the club assess a wide range of options for the role.
Genuine chance ex-Everton manager joins Chelsea with talks scheduled
Evangelos Marinakis was also keen to bring him to Nottingham Forest.
That early contact highlights a broader approach from Chelsea, who are expected to speak with several managers before narrowing down their shortlist.
The idea is to gather information rather than move straight into negotiations, reflecting a more cautious and structured process than in previous managerial searches.
However, according to a new report from The Telegraph, a very enticing name is genuinely set to be contacted.
Chelsea set to approach Xabi Alonso’s camp over manager’s job
The newspaper claims Chelsea are preparing to make contact with the agents of Xabi Alonso, as part of their ongoing discussions over potential successors in the dugout.
Importantly, those same representatives also handle Iraola’s affairs, meaning the club are effectively opening a wider line of communication that could cover multiple names at once.
Alonso’s inclusion adds a different dimension to the process.
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder has quickly built a strong managerial reputation and is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young coaches in Europe, even despite his failed Bernabeu stint this season.
Alonso made history at Bayer Leverkusen by guiding them to the 2023/2024 Bundesliga title unbeaten, not to mention a domestic treble, and only narrowly missed out on the Europa League after Ademola Lookman’s sensational hat-trick for Atalanta.
The Telegraph report suggests Chelsea’s strategy is not to commit early to a single direction, but instead to explore several profiles before making a final decision.
Iraola remains very much part of that mix, but the involvement of Alonso underlines how broad Chelsea’s search has become.
It also reflects the club’s desire to avoid repeating recent mistakes, where appointments have been made quickly without a full exploration of alternatives.
For now, no final decision is close.
Talks are expected to continue over the coming weeks, with Chelsea still weighing up the balance between experience, potential and tactical identity.
What is clear is that the next appointment is seen as a key moment in shaping the club’s direction, and every option is being carefully assessed before any commitment is made.
That being said, Alonso, who Chelsea view as a ‘wildcard’ option (Simon Phillips), would be a very exciting hire.
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