Xabi Alonso is the man of the moment at Chelsea, with the players and the club seemingly united in their belief that he is the ideal candidate to become their next head coach. The former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager is the frontrunner to replace Liam Rosenior, who was sacked after just 106 days in charge. The situation is expected to accelerate after the Blues face Manchester City in the FA Cup final, with the club having tracked Alonso's progress since his managerial debut in 2022. The 44-year-old has been keen to learn from his time at Madrid, where he lasted 34 games after failing to win over influential dressing room elements. Chelsea are looking for their sixth permanent manager since the BlueCo takeover in 2022, but Alonso has not been put off by the idea of joining. He is said to want assurances over certain elements, including a say in signings, but the indications are that Chelsea intend to give him what he needs. The recruitment structure remains unchanged, with a team of five sporting directors, but there is a recognition that someone of Alonso's stature must be listened to when it comes to signings. The players believe the next manager must command respect and keep strong egos in line, and Alonso appears to fit the bill. He was one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, winning multiple honours, including Champions League titles with Liverpool and Madrid and domestic trophies with Bayern. His standing would be a plus when trying to convince players to join, and there is a growing sense within the industry that a deal will be agreed, particularly as there is unlikely to be competition from Liverpool, who have not contacted Alonso and are poised to keep Arne Slot. The pursuit of Alonso has played into Palace's optimism about their chances of landing Andoni Iraola, who is leaving Bournemouth. The worry for Palace is that they could miss out on Iraola if he is offered the Chelsea job. Reece James is poised to return to Chelsea's starting lineup for the Cup final, having made a successful comeback as a substitute in the Premier League draw at Liverpool last Saturday. The captain has been training well, and the interim head coach, Calum McFarlane, is hopeful he can finish the season in good form. The situation is fluid, with no agreement in place, and Chelsea are keeping an open mind as they work to appoint a successor to Rosenior. The players' backing for Alonso is a significant development, and it remains to be seen whether he will be the one to get the team back on track and improve dressing-room morale.
