When it comes to finding the next Chelsea manager, all eyes are on Xabi Alonso. Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol has weighed in, calling the Bayer Leverkusen boss the "outstanding candidate" for the job—but warns it's far from a done deal.

Chelsea find themselves searching for yet another head coach after parting ways with Liam Rosenior last month, just four months into his tenure. He was the second manager to leave Stamford Bridge this season, following Enzo Maresca's exit in January. The Blues have reportedly drawn up a shortlist of five or six names, with Alonso and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola emerging as the frontrunners.

Alonso is believed to be Chelsea's top choice, though the club has also done background checks on Marco Silva, Filipe Luis, and Oliver Glasner. Insiders suggest Chelsea thinks Iraola is ready for a big step up, and early conversations with Alonso have been positive. Still, the Blues are keeping their options open.

Solhekol didn't hold back in his assessment. "In my personal opinion, Xabi Alonso is the outstanding candidate for Chelsea," he told Sky Sports. "He has the strongest résumé both as a coach and as a former player. If Chelsea managed to appoint him, he could potentially become a fantastic manager for the club."

But he added a note of caution: "This is still a complicated situation. Alonso is available, highly in demand, and likely has other options on the table. That's why Chelsea are also considering alternative candidates internally."

There's good news for Blues fans worried about Liverpool swooping in—reports suggest Alonso isn't waiting for the Anfield job, potentially giving Chelsea a clear path to secure the Spanish tactician. With his Champions League-winning pedigree as a player and his rising stock as a coach, Alonso could be the transformative figure Stamford Bridge needs.