As the FA Cup final looms, Chelsea are reportedly on the verge of securing Xabi Alonso as their next permanent manager, with an agreement expected to be finalized just after Saturday's showpiece clash against Manchester City at Wembley.
According to talkSPORT, the Blues are planning to complete the deal following the cup final, where interim boss Callum McFarlane will be hoping to deliver both silverware and a European qualification spot after the club's disappointing ninth-place finish in the Premier League.
This development comes as the Independent's Miguel Delaney reports that Liverpool have not reached out to their former midfielder and Champions League winner regarding a potential return to Anfield, especially after Arne Slot's side suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat at Aston Villa.
The Alonso buzz has Chelsea fans flooding social media with calls for the club to finalize the appointment immediately. However, BlueCo—the investment group that took over from Roman Abramovich—may have more time than expected, as Liverpool appear to be sticking with Slot for now.
If appointed, Alonso would become Chelsea's fifth permanent manager since BlueCo's takeover, ending one of the most turbulent periods in the club's recent history. The 44-year-old Spaniard arrives with an enviable resume, including an invincible Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen, and is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young managers in world football.
Victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final could prove crucial for Chelsea's European hopes. The Blues currently trail seventh-placed Brighton by four points, though eighth place might still secure a European spot if Aston Villa beat Freiberg in the Europa League final—a result that would hand the final Champions League place to sixth-placed Bournemouth.
Alonso, who left Real Madrid by "mutual consent" in January following their Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Barcelona, will have a monumental task ahead: steadying a Chelsea ship that has weathered its most tumultuous campaign in recent memory. But for fans dreaming of a return to glory, the Alonso era can't come soon enough.