Chelsea are aiming to have a new manager in place by mid-June.

Chelsea now have a shortlist of five or six names, including Xabi Alonso, Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva. 

Alonso has been out of work since he left Real Madrid in January after eight months in charge, but he may decide to take a year out before returning to management. 

The ex-Liverpool midfielder won 24 of his 34 games but lost his job after Barcelona beat Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final.

At the time, they were four points behind Barcelona in LaLiga, but that gap is now 14 points after they lost at Barcelona to hand their rivals the title.

Alonso won the German domestic double at Bayer Leverkusen in 2023/24.

The focus at Chelsea this week is on Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City, while work on recruiting a new manager continues.

Victory at Wembley could be Chelsea’s best chance of qualifying for European football next season – in the Europa League.