Overview
- Chelsea confirmed Xabi Alonso as manager on a four-year deal that starts July 1, a role that gives him greater say over recruitment than a head coach.
- talkSPORT's Inside Chelsea praised BlueCo for securing him and urged the owners to back his choices in the market.
- The Mirror reports he was promised major influence on signings and at least three ready-made additions, with summer spending possibly topping £300m.
- Yahoo Sports relayed reporting that Liverpool would not grant the level of control Alonso sought, which cleared a path to Stamford Bridge.
- Alonso's pull stems from his unbeaten 2023/24 title with Bayer Leverkusen, and The Athletic says he wants 'mentality monsters' to set the squad's standard.