Chelsea nearing agreement with Xabi Alonso

Chelsea are close to an agreement to appoint Xabi Alonso as their new head coach. The London club plans to begin final negotiations with the Spanish tactician after the FA Cup final. The 44-year-old manager is considered the frontrunner among other candidates, according to Goal.com reports.

According to TalkSPORT, the Chelsea hierarchy has temporarily paused the process of forming the coaching staff to focus entirely on Saturday's final. Xabi Alonso is expected to beat out other candidates such as Marco Silva, Andoni Iraola, and Oliver Glasner for the position.

Alonso, a former Liverpool midfielder, has gained significant reputation in European football through his successful tenure at Bayer Leverkusen. He led the team to historic results, completing an unbeaten Bundesliga season.

The primary task for Chelsea remains winning the FA Cup final. Following that, the club's management will shift full focus to signing the new head coach and strengthening the squad during the summer transfer window. The goal is to return the team to a level where they can compete for a Champions League spot.