Xabi Alonso emerges as top target for Chelsea – and could be open to role : Xabi Alonso feels his football can fit the Chelsea squad, as the London club explore a deal to appoint the Basque as their next manager, according to sources with knowledge of the process. The 44-year-old currently heads up the Stamford Bridge hierarchy's short list of potential appointments , along with Andoni Iraola . Aiding Chelsea might be the fact that they currently have no major competition for Alonso's signature. There has been no serious contact from Liverpool, despite his playing connection to Anfield. Arne Slot is instead widely expected to stay in the job, despite current fan dissent. Alonso is understood to be keen to return to work this summer, having left a very difficult job in Real Madrid after just seven months. The recent chaos at the Bernabeu nevertheless means that brief role has had no real impact on a burgeoning reputation having previously won a title at Bayer Leverku...