Chelsea are closing in on appointing Spaniard Xabi Alonso as the club’s next permanent head coach.

The former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss, 44, is expected to sign a four-year deal in the coming days.

The Stamford Bridge club have been keen to secure a replacement for Liam Rosenior, who was sacked last month.

BBC Sport reported on Monday that Chelsea had started contacting prospective new managers, including Alonso, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner.

However, former Real and Liverpool midfielder Alonso has emerged as the club’s preferred candidate and talks are now reaching a conclusion.

The club were keen to get the FA Cup final against Manchester City out of the way before making any knowledge of their appointment public.

Talks have been ongoing for a number of weeks and Alonso is understood to have been open to the role if he received certain assurances.

Alonso has been linked with a potential move to Liverpool, where he spent five seasons as a player, in recent weeks with the pressure on Arne Slot increasing following a disappointing season.

But it is understood the Anfield club are preparing to stick with Slot for next season – although it remains to be seen whether Liverpool’s stance alters should the team fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Alonso has been out of work since he left Real after less than eight months in charge in January.

He led Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title – secured without losing a game – as well as the German Cup in his first full season as a senior club manager during the 2023-24 campaign before moving to the Bernabeu last summer.