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Today — 17 May 2026Channel-Football

David Ornstein confirms Chelsea close to major coup after secret London talks

✇CaughtOffside
By:Saikat
16 May 2026 at 21:15

Chelsea have now agreed on a deal to appoint Xabi Alonso as their new manager.

The 44-year-old will sign a four-year contract with the club, and the deal is expected to be confirmed soon. According to David Ornstein from The Athletic, the 44-year-old manager visited London last week and agreed terms with Chelsea.

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Xabi Alonso is looking for a fresh start

He was shown the door by Real Madrid earlier in the season, and he was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League. He is highly rated across Europe and regarded as one of the finest young managers in the game.

It will be interesting to see if he can make an immediate impact at Chelsea and help them bounce back strongly. The Blues have quality players at their disposal, but they have had a disappointing season. They are likely to miss out on Champions League qualification for the upcoming campaign.

Alonso will be expected to help them bounce back strongly and return to the Champions League next season.

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Alonso could be a quality addition

The manager has previously impressed in Germany, where he won the league title with Bayer Leverkusen. There is no doubt that he has a pedigree to succeed in the Premier League as well. He has also been linked with clubs like Liverpool in recent months, but it seems that Chelsea has moved quickly to secure his signature.

They are one of the biggest clubs in the world, and the opportunity to manage them will be exciting for the 44-year-old. He will look to help them with major trophies. Despite his dismissal from Real Madrid, he did a reasonably good job with them, and there is no doubt that he could succeed at Chelsea with the right backing.

The post David Ornstein confirms Chelsea close to major coup after secret London talks appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Yesterday — 16 May 2026Channel-Football

Xabi Alonso’s “first win” revealed as Chelsea set for major change of direction

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By:Mark Brus
16 May 2026 at 16:59

Chelsea look to be closing in on hiring Xabi Alonso as their next manager, and other key details have emerged about the imminent appointment.

The Spanish tactician has impressed in his relatively brief coaching career so far, particularly when he won the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen, and he should be a fine appointment for Chelsea next season.

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Perhaps even more than that, though, is the news from journalist Guillem Balague that Chelsea’s owners seem prepared to modify their approach slightly and give their managers more control.

So far, things haven’t really gone to plan since Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali took over from Roman Abramovich, with a quick turnover of both managers and players.

Even if there’ll be plenty of Chelsea fans looking into how to buy Chelsea vs Tottenham tickets, it’s also worth noting that there’s been a lot of anger in the Stamford Bridge crowd lately, so those attending may continue to make their displeasure towards the ownership known.

Chelsea could do with a bit more stability, and perhaps a bit more delegating to true football experts.

Xabi Alonso already has big Chelsea win

According to Balague, this may already be the first big win for Alonso as he prepares to take the Chelsea job.

“We are hearing from sources very close to the Chelsea decision makers that they are going to tweak the system to give the manager more voice. That is Xabi’s first win and you are never stronger than when you are negotiating to land in a club,” Balague posted on X, formerly Twitter.

This will surely be music to the ears of CFC supporters, many of whom are clearly not happy with how things have been going this season.

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The Stamford Bridge crowd have booed the team off after bad results, while there have also been protests against the owners.

If Chelsea do now change their approach slightly and give Alonso power to mould the team in his shape, that could be for the best in the long run.

There are some risks with that approach as well, of course, but Alonso seems like a good enough manager that it’s worth giving him the keys and trusting him to build something positive for the club in the long run.

The post Xabi Alonso’s “first win” revealed as Chelsea set for major change of direction appeared first on CaughtOffside.

When Chelsea could announce Xabi Alonso as Fabrizio Romano names 3 other managers they spoke to

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By:Mark Brus
16 May 2026 at 11:32

Chelsea have reportedly had a direct meeting with Xabi Alonso as Fabrizio Romano reports that the Blues want to announce him before the start of the World Cup.

The Spanish tactician has been out of work since leaving his position at Real Madrid earlier this season, and after doing such impressive work during his time at Bayer Leverkusen, it seemed only a matter of time before he landed himself another big job.

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Now the latest from Romano is that a final decision is close as Chelsea work on appointing Alonso, while he also revealed that they spoke to three other candidates – Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva, and Oliver Glasner…

? Chelsea have had a direct meeting with Xabi Alonso and final decision is expected very soon.#CFC plan to announce their next manager before the World Cup, talks are accelerating.

Chelsea also spoke to Iraola, Glasner and Marco Silva as part of their list. pic.twitter.com/fnirun21KS

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 16, 2026

“Chelsea have had a direct meeting with Xabi Alonso and final decision is expected very soon. #CFC plan to announce their next manager before the World Cup, talks are accelerating. Chelsea also spoke to Iraola, Glasner and Marco Silva as part of their list,” Romano posted on X.

Xabi Alonso is taking a big risk with the Chelsea job

Alonso looks like he has a great coaching career ahead of him, so it’s slightly surprising that he seems prepared to take a risk on Chelsea in their current state.

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This current Blues project has proven tough for a few different managers now, with the club’s board focusing a lot on recruiting young players for the future.

However, despite there being some apparent focus on a long-term project, there also hasn’t been much time given to managers to develop a team, while the movement of so many players in and out in each transfer window also indicates a lack of a clear plan.

Perhaps Alonso has been given some assurances over the amount of control he’ll have, or it could be that Chelsea would be prepared to change direction to a certain extent.

Overall, though, it’s hard to imagine this being the best choice for Alonso, who really needed a good move after his difficult short-lived spell in charge of Real Madrid.

The post When Chelsea could announce Xabi Alonso as Fabrizio Romano names 3 other managers they spoke to appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Before yesterdayChannel-Football

Could Xabi Alonso Still Manage Liverpool One Day If He Takes the Chelsea Job Now?

✇English Premier League News - Premiership Results & Table
By:Veselin Trajkovic
15 May 2026 at 20:08

Chelsea are reportedly advancing in their discussions with Xabi Alonso, though the Frenchman is looking for clarity around his role and the club’s long-term vision before committing to the position of head coach. Alonso remains cautious after a difficult spell at Real Madrid, where his tenure ended just seven months into what had initially been […]

The post Could Xabi Alonso Still Manage Liverpool One Day If He Takes the Chelsea Job Now? appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Could Xabi Alonso Still Manage Liverpool One Day If He Takes the Chelsea Job Now? appeared first on Soccer News.

“On the cards…” – Odds slashed on Xabi Alonso becoming next Chelsea manager

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By:Mark Brus
15 May 2026 at 15:17

Xabi Alonso is now the clear favourite to be named the next Chelsea manager with his odds slashed to just 1/3 with Ladbrokes.

That puts Alonso clear of the competition as things stand, with speculation hotting up that Chelsea’s talks with the former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager are advancing well.

The Spanish tactician has been available since leaving Real Madrid earlier this season, and it has seemed only a matter of time before a big club made a move for him.

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Liverpool were strongly linked with their former player for some time, but have decided to stick with Arne Slot, allowing Chelsea to swoop.

Xabi Alonso looks set to be named Chelsea manager

Alonso is now odds-on to be the new CFC boss, with Alex Apati of Ladbrokes providing some insight into the situation.

“Xabi Alonso’s long-awaited Premier League return could finally be on the cards this summer, with Chelsea chiefs now just 1/3 to make him their next manager,” Apati said.

See below for the full odds from Ladbrokes:

Next Permanent Chelsea Manager

Xabi Alonso – 1/3
Andoni Iraola – 9/2
Marco Silva – 10/1
Filipe Luis – 10/1
Oliver Glasner – 12/1

There are some other intriguing names there, with Iraola doing a great job at Bournemouth, while Silva’s fine work with Fulham also often seeing him linked with bigger clubs.

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Alonso, however, makes sense as a good choice as he’s won major silverware with Leverkusen and also taken on the challenge of managing a dressing room full of big names and egos at Real Madrid.

Chelsea will be another big challenge for the 44-year-old, though, with the west London giants not faring well under this current ownership.

Alonso may find he struggles like his predecessors to work with these young and inexperienced players, whilst also dealing with fan expectations to deliver silverware straight away.

The post “On the cards…” – Odds slashed on Xabi Alonso becoming next Chelsea manager appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Talks progressing as Chelsea players push to appoint 44-year-old manager

✇CaughtOffside
By:Saikat
14 May 2026 at 21:00

Chelsea is looking to bring in a new manager, and they have identified Xabi Alonso as a target.

According to a report from The Guardian, Chelsea players believe the 44-year-old Spanish manager would be the ideal option to take over next season.

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Chelsea in talks to land Xabi Alonso

The report further claims that Chelsea is already in talks with Alonso, and discussions are heading in a positive direction.

It remains to be seen whether they can wrap up the move. They need to bring in a quality manager in the summer. The 44-year-old has shown his quality in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, and he helped them win the league title.

Even though he was shown the door at Real Madrid, he did reasonably well with them. There is no doubt he has the pedigree to succeed in the Premier League.

Chelsea will be hoping to bounce back strongly after a disappointing season, and the right manager could bring out the best in their players. There is no doubt they have talented players at their disposal. They have underperformed this season, and they need someone who can get the best out of their current squad.

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Where will Alonso end up?

Alonso has also been linked with other clubs, such as Liverpool. It remains to be seen where he ends up eventually. The opportunity to manage Chelsea will be hard to turn down for him. They are among the biggest clubs in the world, and they have tremendous resources. He could put together a formidable team at the London club and help them fight for trophies next season.

The fact that he is already admired by the players will come as a huge boost to Chelsea and the manager.

The post Talks progressing as Chelsea players push to appoint 44-year-old manager appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Former Chelsea manager urges them to pick coach who has done “wonderful things”

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By:Mark Brus
14 May 2026 at 14:09

Former Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has suggested that it would be the best choice for the Blues to hire Xabi Alonso as their replacement for Liam Rosenior.

Speaking to Ladbrokes at the launch of Ladisfaction, Di Matteo made it clear that he’s a big fan of Alonso, praising him for doing “wonderful things” during his time in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen.

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Di Matteo, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012, also praised Alonso’s style of football and the useful experience he’d have gained from managing the big names and egos in the Real Madrid dressing room.

The former Chelsea boss is also a fan of ex-Blues midfielder Cesc Fabregas, but seems to be leaning towards Alonso as his preferred choice.

Xabi Alonso over Cesc Fabregas for the Chelsea manager job?

Alonso did remarkable work during his time in charge of Leverkusen, winning them their first ever Bundesliga title, whilst also reaching the final of the Europa League.

The Spanish tactician was a little unlucky with the Real Madrid job this season, having won 24 out of 34 games in charge before being dismissed.

One imagines Alonso could surely get his coaching career back on track at Chelsea, and it seems Di Matteo is a big fan.

“In terms of managers, I actually think there are so many good names around,” Di Matteo said.

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“Cesc Fabregas is one of them, Xabi Alonso also did wonderful things in Germany… these are the kind of names I think Chelsea should be looking at.

“They are both progressive managers who like to play a certain style. Both have proven they’re capable – Alonso probably a little more than Fabregas, who is still early on in his managerial career.

“Alonso has certainly shown he can bring trophies, though, and now has the experience of a big dressing room, from his time with Real Madrid. So there are certainly managers out there who would be a good fit for our club.”

If Chelsea don’t move for Alonso then another top club surely will – do you see the Blues winning the race? Give us your thoughts in the comments!

The post Former Chelsea manager urges them to pick coach who has done “wonderful things” appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“This is the plan” – Fabrizio Romano provides update on Chelsea manager search

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By:Mark Brus
14 May 2026 at 12:19

Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on Chelsea’s search for a new manager amid links with Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola.

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The Blues recently sacked Liam Rosenior and now plan to move quickly for a replacement, with Alonso and Iraola seeming to be two main candidates.

There have been a few names linked in recent times, but Alonso is available and has a fine reputation in the game, with Ben Jacobs recently posting the below on X about the Spanish tactician being a leading candidate for the vacancy at Stamford Bridge…

? Understand Chelsea hope to appoint a successor to replace Liam Rosenior before the World Cup starts.

Xabi Alonso is currently a leading contender and Chelsea have already made contact with the former Real Madrid and Leverkusen boss. Alonso is keen on a Premier League job this… pic.twitter.com/LFfG6mUSZy

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) May 11, 2026

Now Romano has also spoken on his YouTube channel about Alonso and Iraola, giving some sense of Chelsea’s plans.

Fabrizio Romano on Chelsea’s manager search

Discussing the CFC links with Alonso and Iraola, Romano said: “I think in the next days we will update also on the Chelsea manager situation. What I can confirm is that my understanding apart from Xabi Alonso conversations with his agent, and Xabi Alonso would be open to returning to the Premier League.

“And Raiola who wants to stay in the Premier League and would be excited about the possibility to do that at Chelsea eventually.

“So apart from the managers being mentioned, the idea at Chelsea is to get the new manager as soon as possible before the workup. This is the plan. So in almost one month for sure Chelsea want to have everything already signed, already announced, already completed. This is the timing in mind at Chelsea. Then obviously this depends on the conversations on talks.

“So let’s wait and see how this will continue but Chelsea are moving forward with the project and the idea to appoint a new manager as soon as possible.”

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Can anyone save Chelsea from their current crisis?

Chelsea is a difficult project right now, so it’s not going to be easy for even the best managers to come in and work in these conditions.

This ownership have proven tough to work with, and impatient for results straight away, despite the contradictory approach of signing large numbers of young players for the future.

Alonso impressed and performed well beyond expectations at Bayer Leverkusen, but then struggled at Real Madrid, so it will be interesting to see how those contrasting experiences set him up for the Chelsea job if that is where he ends up going.

The post “This is the plan” – Fabrizio Romano provides update on Chelsea manager search appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Xabi Alonso makes ambitious Chelsea plan that is going to get the fans behind him

✇CaughtOffside
By:Ahad Shaukat
14 May 2026 at 09:44

Xabi Alonso is being heavily linked with a move to Chelsea as the Blues look for a new manager.

Following the departures of Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior this season, the Premier League giants are on the lookout for a new manager and Alonso is someone high on their radar.

Former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid mastermind Xabi Alonso has set out clear, uncompromising terms in his advanced negotiations to become the permanent head coach at Stamford Bridge.

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The 44-year-old Spaniard is not simply looking for a standard touchline role, he envisions building a comprehensive, long-term sporting project modeled directly after the highly structured environment Luis Enrique has established at Paris Saint-Germain, according to a source on X.

Xabi Alonso has decided what he wants at Chelsea

To execute this vision, Alonso has handed Chelsea’s ownership group, BlueCo, a definitive directive.

He wants complete operational autonomy over transfers and pivotal recruitment decisions.

Sources indicate he deeply admires how Enrique successfully navigated PSG away from a volatile, individualistic era into a highly disciplined, collective powerhouse.

Alonso hopes to implement an identical framework in West London, where tactical identity dictates every transfer move.

Rather than inheriting young talents selected solely by sporting directors, the Basque tactician wants guaranteed final approval on incoming targets, squad planning, and outgoing sales to ensure seamless integration into his demanding, possession-based system.

Historically, BlueCo have maintained a fiercely protective grip over Chelsea’s transfer strategy.

Blues directors have acknowledged their mistakes

However, reliable club insiders reveal that the hierarchy is prepared to execute a philosophical shift to secure Alonso’s signature ahead of circling European rivals.

The ownership group has engaged in deep internal reflection following the heavily scrutinised missteps of recent seasons.

Handing complete sporting keys to a head coach marks a surprising departure from BlueCo’s foundational operating strategy.

If the Blues’ boardroom officially signs off on these sweeping demands, Stamford Bridge could finally gain the clear direction, identity, and hope for a brighter future under a promising manager like Alonso.

Chelsea and Man United tracking 24-year-old underrated Spanish attacker

The post Xabi Alonso makes ambitious Chelsea plan that is going to get the fans behind him appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea consider Xabi Alonso to replace Rosenior, Iraola and Silva options too

✇Latest Football Transfer News & Transfer Rumours 2022/23
By:Veselin Trajkovic
11 May 2026 at 22:14

According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Chelsea are considering Xabi Alonso as a potential new head coach, though no final decision has been made at this stage. Alonso, currently out of work after being dismissed by Real Madrid in January, is open to the role. The 44-year-old is also being linked with Liverpool, though […]

The post Chelsea consider Xabi Alonso to replace Rosenior, Iraola and Silva options too appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Chelsea consider Xabi Alonso to replace Rosenior, Iraola and Silva options too appeared first on Soccer News.

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