{"id":7878,"date":"2026-05-13T13:34:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T13:34:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=7878"},"modified":"2026-05-13T13:34:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T13:34:58","slug":"claims-xabi-alonso-holding-out-for-liverpool-are-wide-of-the-mark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=7878","title":{"rendered":"Claims Xabi Alonso holding out for Liverpool are wide of the mark"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Chelsea fans will be pleased to hear that a report from yesterday on the manager search seem to be wide of the mark.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

All the noise around Chelsea right now is the new manager search, and mostly former Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso and Chelsea trying to get him to take the vacant role of head coach at the club.<\/p>\n

EXCLUSIVE! Xabi Alonso not making any major demands but emphasising importance of defence, talks progressing well \u2013 Chelsea throwing everything at it!<\/h3>\n

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It seems like things are going OK in early talks between the two, but yesterday it was being claimed that Alonso could actually just be waiting out on Liverpool to see if they are going to sack Arne Slot and approach him to take over.<\/p>\n

However, it does not seem like that is that case, at least according to a fresh new report out last night anyway.<\/p>\n

Wide of the mark<\/h2>\n
\"Xabi<\/source><\/picture>
Xabi Alonso with Real Madrid. (Photo by Denis Doyle\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Guardian claims that whilst Chelsea are optimistic over hiring Alonso after holding talks with him, the unknown is whether Alonso decides to move to England now or opts to take a break. But suggestions that he is waiting to see if the Liverpool role becomes open soon have been exaggerated. <\/span><\/p>\n

Most reports say that Liverpool are sticking with Slot this summer anyway.<\/p>\n

In other news today\u2026<\/h2>\n

Alonso is being linked more and more with the Chelsea job recently, and one journalist is now saying he\u2019s the \u201cmain target\u201d for the Blues. It\u2019s pretty clear Chelsea want him as the priority.<\/p>\n

Alonso would have the authority to command a dressing room at Chelsea, a key ingredient for the new manager. This helps make him the standout candidate for the head coach role at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n

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