Chelsea are pulling out all the stops to land Xabi Alonso as their next manager, but the Spaniard has made one thing crystal clear before he signs.

Chelsea earmark Xabi Alonso as priority manager target

The west London club have already made contact with the former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss, and did so around late April to the start of May, with Chelsea understood to be hoping to have their new man in place before the World Cup begins this summer.

The Athletic's David Ornstein reports that Alonso is open to the possibility of taking charge at Stamford Bridge, though at this stage nothing has been decided.

The 44-year-old is said to be eager to get back to work as soon as possible, and talks between the two parties are continuing to advance.

The Independent also reported that Alonso believes his style of football could suit the Chelsea squad, with sources close to the process confirming the club are actively exploring a deal.

That being said, the ex-Real head coach is believed to want a bit more control than previous Blues bosses, which is something that BlueCo are open to giving as they look to advance discussions (Simon Phillips).

While the signs are becoming more encouraging, there are still plenty of hurdles to navigate, as reliable Chelsea journalist Simon Phillips reported this week.

Xabi Alonso outlines Chelsea transfer priority with talks progressing

According to Phillips, via his Substack, fresh details have emerged about exactly what Alonso is looking for if he is to commit to the project.

While he is not issuing ultimatums or demanding control of the club's entire operation, he does have one key condition around recruitment — and it centres on their defence.

Phillips reports that Alonso has been seeking assurances over the club's transfer plans this summer, with the defensive line his primary concern.

Crucially, the Spaniard believes Chelsea must sign two new centre-backs ahead of next season, and he wants a firm commitment that those additions will be addressed before he agrees to anything.

He is not asking for wholesale control, Phillips notes — just the reassurance that the squad will be strengthened in the areas he considers essential.

On the broader picture, Phillips says that talks are "progressing well" and that Chelsea are "throwing everything" at getting the deal over the line.

The mood is described as positive, though it is stressed that nothing is done, nothing is advanced, and a formal agreement remains some way off.

Chelsea's determination to make Alonso their man has not stopped the club from keeping their options open.

Andoni Iraola is understood to be next in line should the Alonso pursuit fail, with Marco Silva also under consideration. Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has also been discussed internally.

Phillips adds that Cesc Fabregas remains in the frame as a contingency option too, but the message from the club is clear — these are backup plans, not alternatives they are actively chasing, and Alonso is the priority.

Sky Sports have reported that Chelsea are targeting a managerial appointment by mid-June, giving the club just weeks to get something concrete over the line.

With the World Cup acting as a hard deadline, the pressure is mounting on both sides to find an agreement fairly quickly.

Whether Alonso ultimately decides Stamford Bridge is the right environment for him remains to be seen.

He has already seen five managers come and go since BlueCo took over as owners, and questions linger about whether that kind of instability will give him pause.