Xabi Alonso is set to negotiate with the Chelsea star who is “going to leave”

New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso is planning to hold talks with the reluctant star as one of his first orders of business at Stamford Bridge, according to a report.

Chelsea confirm Xabi Alonso as new manager

Less than 24 hours after Chelsea’s 1-0 FA Cup final defeat against Man City, the club moved to draw a line under a frustrating season by officially confirming Alonso as their new manager.

The 44-year-old Spaniard has signed a four-year contract that runs until June 2030 and will officially start his role on July 1, giving him a full pre-season to build up the squad ahead of the new campaign.

In his first message to fans, Alonso described Chelsea as “one of the biggest clubs in world football” and spoke of the “great pride” he felt in being offered the role.

He also made it clear that his discussions with the team’s ownership and sports leadership convinced him that they shared a common vision – built on hard work, tradition and winning trophies.

The appointment ends weeks of speculation and a managerial search that considered the likes of Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner and Cesc Fàbregas before settling firmly on Alonso as the leading candidate.

Chelsea also gave him the title of manager instead of head coach – a subtle but significant difference that reflects the wider influence he is expected to have across the football system.

That influence is already being felt.

Xabi Alonso is set to face Chelsea talks with Marc Cucurella

According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, who was the first to report Chelsea’s strong interest in Alonso, the former Real Madrid boss wasted no time in getting the team organized.

One of his first acts will be to sit down with Marc Cucurella for what promises to be a key discussion on the left-back’s future.

Phillips reports via his Substack that Alonso is keen to keep the Spaniard and sees him as a player who fits his tactical views.

However, the situation is not straightforward.

Cucurella has two years left on his Chelsea contract, and there is widespread understanding within the game that the defender has a strong desire to return to Spain before his career ends.

On top of that, City have been linked with a move – links that could develop in the coming weeks.

More importantly, Phillips’ sources indicate that Cucurella is “on the verge of leaving” Chelsea as of January. If accurate, that represents a major setback for Alonso.

Convincing an experimental player to drop a lesson and commit to a new project is one of the most difficult tasks in management, no matter how compelling the pitch.

Cucurella has been a fixture in Chelsea’s side this season when fit, making 48 appearances in all competitions and contributing one goal and four assists in the Premier League.

The 27-year-old joined Chelsea from Brighton in August 2022 for a fee of around £60m and has had mixed fortunes at Stamford Bridge, enduring injuries and managerial upheaval but finally starting to excel as a key starter.

Cucurella is also entering his senior years, and the prospect of losing a player of his quality – especially one who won Euros with Spain in 2024 – will leave a hole that needs to be filled in a place where reliable options are not easy to find.

For Alonso, the Cucurella interview will be an early test of his powers of persuasion.

If he can convince a defender to stay and buy into the project, it sends a powerful message to the entire dressing room. If he can’t, Chelsea will need to move quickly to find a replacement, and the summer window will feel shorter than it should.