Chelsea told of stunning Premier League title prospect if they hire Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso would turn Chelsea into Premier League title challengers within a year of taking the job.

That’s the view of Scott Minto, who has called upon owners BlueCo to alter their strategy by giving the next appointment more control.

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As talkSPORT reported earlier this week, Alonso has emerged as one of the leading contenders to become the new Chelsea head coach.

The Blues have held talks with the former Spain international, who is keen to manage in the Premier League.

Alonso won the 2023/24 Bundesliga title at Bayer Leverkusen without losing a single match and was last in charge at Real Madrid.

Chelsea would ideally like to have their next head coach sign on the dotted line before the 2026 World Cup begins on June 11.

Appointing Alonso could be the driving force in making the west Londoners a competitive side once again, and Minto backs the move.

Speaking ahead of the FA Cup final against Manchester City on Saturday, which is live on talkSPORT, the ex-Blue said: “This would be massive for Chelsea.

“If they’re able to convince Xabi Alonso to go to Chelsea, with what’s happened and how much control the owners and sporting directors have had, and how little control the head coach (has had)…

“I was there at Stamford Bridge when (Enzo) Maresca was in charge, 2-2 against Bournemouth, and he took off Cole Palmer. There were boos around Stamford Bridge, screams of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing!’ Within a few days, he walked out.

“With all due respect, Mauricio Pochettino is a charming guy, fell out with the hierarchy. You’ve got Enzo Maresca, who walked away.

“If the hierarchy now, after Liam (Rosenior) going, mean what they say about going to reassess how they are and how they do things…

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“Xabi Alonso doesn’t need a job, and he’s not going to be a manager until he’s 70 or whatever, so every single job he takes… I don’t judge anything that happened at Real Madrid. Look at the infighting, literal infighting that’s going on at Real Madrid.

“Look at the job he did at Leverkusen, but he is someone who will come in and say, ‘I want this, this and this’.

“Luis Enrique was interviewed for the job and decided not to take it. (Julian) Nagelsmann as well, decided not to take it.

“But if… for me, it’s just a tweak, if they tweak and understand the head coach is really a manager, you give him more control, you get those senior pros in spinal positions, I genuinely think within a year or so, Chelsea can be challenging.”

What is the latest on Alonso to Chelsea?

On the Premier League All Access podcast, talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook revealed what stage negotiations are at.

“It’s interesting, it shows how fluid a managerial hunt can be, and how quickly a situation can change.

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“It was only about a week ago that I was told that Xabi Alonso wasn’t completely convinced about this Chelsea project. But since Monday afternoon, when I got the nod that actually, he’s coming round to the idea, I think this one is accelerating.

“I think Xabi Alonso is the frontrunner, probably with Andoni Iraola in second place in that race and that will have knock on effects, potentially, for Crystal Palace’s managerial search.

“But I think it’s really interesting if Chelsea do go on and hire Xabi Alonso, because I think he’s made certain demands during conversations, he wants a lot more control than the likes of Liam Rosenior, certainly, and even Enzo Maresca had.

“Obviously, they’re going for someone who’s proven himself at Bayer Leverkusen, and has managed at the very top level with Real Madrid.

“So, that is a change in position, they’re no longer going for sort of rookie managers who are learning on the job.

“I think this would be an admission that a lot of the BlueCo sporting project has failed, if they completely tear up their recruitment process and go for someone ready-made.

“I think Liverpool fans are frustrated, because they want Arne Slot replaced with Alonso. That’s assuming that Xabi Alonso wants that job, which I’m not completely convinced would be the case.”