Xabi Alonso makes Liverpool decision after Chelsea contact with ‘job his if he wants it’
Xabi Alonso has been linked with taking up tenure with Liverpool as Arne Slot’s future with the club is cast into speculation following a disappointing season
Xabi Alonso has been linked with a return to Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Xabi Alonso is reportedly apprehensive about taking a role with Chelsea in case Liverpool part ways with Arne Slot this summer. The Reds legend has been linked with a move to Anfield since parting ways with Real Madrid in January.
However, a return to Merseyside hasn’t been the Spaniard’s sole potential landing spot for the next stage of his career, with a role at Stamford Bridge also potentially on the cards. The Blues are seeing out the rest of the season with Calum McFarlane at the helm after sacking Liam Rosenior last month.
With the Blues to appoint a new head coach this summer, a number of potential candidates have emerged as of late, including the likes of Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner and Cesc Fabregas. Alonso is also among them, with a source close to Chelsea telling the I this week that “the job is his if he wants it.”
However, it is reported that Alonso is stalling over taking the Chelsea job, in case Liverpool create a dream vacancy for him in the coming months. While Slot guided the Reds to the Premier League last season, immediately after taking the reins from Jurgen Klopp, 2025/26 has proven far less fruitful.
At the time of writing, Liverpool sit fourth in the league standings, with the possibility of securing Champions League football for the new season potentially saving face from an otherwise disappointing term.
Despite this, Alonso may be waiting a while for a head coaching role on Merseyside to come up; the general consensus is that Fenway Sports Group (FSG) will continue to put their faith in Slot for 2026/27.
That hasn’t prevented the 44-year-old from consistently being linked with the club he played for between 2004 and 2009, however. A source has also claimed to the I that he would have “taken the Chelsea job by now if Liverpool was not still in his thinking.”
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Liverpool have been prevented from truly thriving this season by injury problems, as well as an inability to settle new signings quickly. Alexander Isak joined the club in a £125million move from Newcastle United on deadline day, but took a little while to build match sharpness as a result of his transfer saga denying him a full pre-season camp.
Milos Kerkez also arrived from Bournemouth but failed to hit the ground running, with Andy Robertson deployed in his place at left-back as he got to grips with Slot’s tactics and style of play.
While Florian Wirtz has enjoyed a superb second-half of the season, the German attacking-midfielder also made little impact early doors as he struggled with the pace of the Premier League.
On the injury front, Isak was sidelined for months in December as a result of a leg fracture, while Alisson has been in and out of the team through niggles of his own – Giorgi Mamardashvili rolled out in his place.
Hugo Ekitike’s season is over and he is not expected to return until well into the new term as a result of an Achilles tendon rupture in the Champions League last month, while Conor Bradley and Wataru Endo are also long-term absentees through respective knee and ankle issues.
Giovanni Leoni, meanwhile, has not featured for the club since rupturing his ACL on his debut back in September. Liverpool have just two matches left in the Premier League this season, taking on Aston Villa on Friday evening before playing host to Brentford in their finale come Sunday, May 24.
