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Chelsea have been backed to make a move for Fulham head coach Marco Silva as an alternative to Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola.<\/p>\n
The Blues<\/strong> are in the process of appointing a new head coach following the exit of Liam Rosenior last month.<\/p>\n Chelsea cannot afford to get this appointment wrong as a huge rebuild is required following an embarrassing 2025\/26 campaign, and they are linked with a host of potential replacements.<\/p>\n It was initially reported that Bournemouth boss Iraola, who will become a free agent next month, was the leading candidate to join Chelsea, but David Ornstein reported on Monday evening that they have made a move for Alonso<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Ornstein said on X: \u2018Chelsea exploring deal to appoint Xabi Alonso as next head coach. 44yo former #RMFC boss understood to be open to possibility, although nothing decided yet as process continues. Andoni Iraola also strong contender ahead of departing.\u2019<\/p>\n READ: Xabi Alonso is the last manager who should take on BlueCo Chelsea challenge As mentioned, Iraola is another candidate, and they may have to go for him after Alonso reportedly decided on his preferred next move<\/strong>.<\/p>\n And a report from The Sun<\/em> claims Chelsea have held a \u2018meeting\u2019 with Iraola\u2019s representatives over a move to Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n The report reveals: \u2018The Blues, who sacked Liam Rosenior last month, have identified Iraola and former Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso as leading candidates.<\/p>\n \u2018Iraola and Alonso are represented by the same agency, with Chelsea having approached both coaches to express their interest.\u2019<\/p>\n Silva, who is also due to become a free agent next move, has been mooted as a left-field candidate for Chelsea, and former Aston Villa forward Gabby Agbonlahor has explainaed why he would be \u201cperfect\u201d for Chelsea.<\/p>\n \u201cI actually said this exactly, and I was getting Chelsea fans saying, \u2018How dare you!’\u201d Agbonlahor responded to Jeff Stelling on talkSPORT after Silva\u2019s move to Chelsea was suggested.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Top 10 moments when joyless, buzzkill VAR got it wrong even when it got it right \u201cI\u2019m saying to myself, \u2018Marco Silva is the perfect character that these big time Charlies at Chelsea need\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way they\u2019ve got rid of Rosenior, they\u2019ll do it to a soft manager that comes in. They need a hard hitting manager.<\/p>\n \u201cMarco Silva doesn\u2019t take any nonsense, Jeff. We\u2019ve seen him on the sidelines, similar to Antonio Conte\u2019s sort of style.<\/p>\n \u201cHe will go into that football club Chelsea in pre-season, sort them out. (He will work out) who\u2019s on side, who\u2019s going to work hard, who\u2019s going to follow runners, who\u2019s going to run?\u201d<\/p>\n READ NEXT: The six hardest manager jobs in world football as Real Madrid dressing room explodes He continued: \u201cHow many games this season have Chelsea been outrun? That\u2019s incredible. That\u2019s the most embarrassing stat for a manager, if your team isn\u2019t running.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was finishing football, Jeff, players were being played because they could run more than players that are probably technically better.<\/p>\n \u201cSo to see that from Chelsea, they need a hard manager like Marco Silva going in there.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\nIraola \u2018meeting\u2019 held but Chelsea told to appoint an alternative\u2026<\/h2>\n
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