Chelsea has initiated contact with several prospective head coaches, aiming to secure a new permanent appointment before pre-season training commences in early July. This move follows the club’s decision to sack Liam Rosenior last month.
According to BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel, the club’s shortlist features a prominent group of managers, including Andoni Iraola, Xabi Alonso, Marco Silva, and Oliver Glasner. A significant commonality among these four candidates is that Chelsea would not be required to pay compensation, as they are either currently out of work or scheduled to be without a club by the end of the season.
Key candidates and their situations
Andoni Iraola, 43, has confirmed he will depart Bournemouth at the end of the current season. His future is a subject of considerable interest, as he is also Crystal Palace’s first-choice candidate to replace Oliver Glasner, and Palace has already held extensive talks with him. Iraola is reportedly weighing his options, even open to being unattached next season to consider potential mid-season vacancies.
Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool midfielder, left his position as Real Madrid manager in January. He is said to be optimistic about his chances for the Stamford Bridge role, though sources within Chelsea have indicated that the race remains wide open.
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Oliver Glasner is set to leave Crystal Palace when his contract expires this summer and has expressed an openness to staying in England. Meanwhile, Marco Silva’s Fulham contract also expires at the end of the season, though he has been offered a three-year deal to remain at Craven Cottage. Silva reportedly has options abroad, with clubs in Saudi Arabia showing interest should he choose to depart Fulham.
Former blues considered
Beyond the primary quartet, the club’s search extends to former Chelsea players. Filipe Luis, who previously coached Flamengo, and Cesc Fabregas, currently managing Como, are both noted as having admirers within the Chelsea hierarchy. Their past connections to the club could offer an intriguing dimension to the selection process.
The urgency to finalize an appointment by early July underscores Chelsea’s desire to integrate a new vision and strategy well ahead of the upcoming campaign, ensuring the new head coach has ample time to prepare the squad.
Sources: www.bbc.com, www.bbc.co.uk
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