Xabi Alonso leads Chelsea’s three-horse race, Benfica eye Premier League boss if Jose Mourinho leaves for Real Madrid - Paper Round

Alonso is the front-runner to take charge of Chelsea this summer, with The i Paper reporting his potential appointment would include more power over transfers.

The former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss is open to joining Chelsea despite the club’s tumultuous campaign which has seen Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior come and go.

The i Paper adds: ”Chelsea have other candidates with Fulham’s Marco Silva and Bournemouth’s soon-to-be free agent Andoni Iraola both of interest, but Alonso has some high-profile backing inside the ownership group and would represent something of a coup given he is one of the hottest managerial properties on the market.

”He might also be an option if Arne Slot leaves Liverpool though at the moment they are planning to retain him for next season, despite the club’s apparent regression.

”Alonso wants to get back into management this summer so is unlikely to hang on in case that stance changes.”

Chelsea have a longer list of potential candidates, with The Telegraph reporting Oliver Glasner and Filipe Luis are also being considered as the permanent successor to Rosenior.

There is no preferred candidate at this stage with former midfielder Cesc Fabregas also a name being discussed.

The Telegraph adds: ”Chelsea’s five-strong football leadership team, led by sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, have started work on identifying the preferred candidate to recommend to the club’s owners, but no timeframe has been put on the process.

”Like Iraola, who has announced he will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season, Glasner will be a free agent in the summer after deciding to step down from his job as Crystal Palace head coach.

”Iraola is currently Palace’s top choice to replace Glasner, with former Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank also thought to be in the frame for the Selhurst Park job.

"Luis is a former Chelsea player who was briefly considered when Rosenior was appointed as Maresca’s replacement. The Brazilian has since left Flamengo, winning three titles with them, including the Copa Libertadores."

Benfica are considering Fulham’s Marco Silva should Jose Mourinho return to Real Madrid as head coach, the Guardian reports.

Mourinho is favourite to take charge of Real again and talks have taken place over a return.

The Guardian adds: ”Benfica do not want to lose the 63-year-old, who was hired last September, but need a contingency plan. They are looking at Silva as a potential replacement for Mourinho, who is expected to agree to a second spell at Madrid 13 years after his first ended.

”Fulham want to keep Silva and have offered him a new contract, but the 48-year-old is yet to decide whether it is time for a new challenge.

"Silva lifted the club into the Premier League in 2022 and has established them there, but they have struggled to sustain a push for European qualification.

"Moving to Benfica, who are second to Porto in Portugal, would give him the chance to coach in the Champions League.”

Fulham, Rangers and Celtic are among the admirers of Huddersfield winger Cameron Ashia, the Daily Mail reports.

The 21-year-old made 31 appearances this season, scoring six goals, prompting Huddersfield to extend his contract given Stuttgart, Hoffenheim, Burnley, Ipswich, Southampton, Sheffield United and Cardiff are all interested too.

The Mail adds: ”He is the nephew of Nottingham Forest's Callum Hudson-Odoi and has been compared to Manchester City's Jeremy Doku owing to his style and blistering pace.

”Ashia has made himself a fans' favourite at Huddersfield and they would be loath to lose him owing to the impact he has made over the past campaign but that may prove difficult as interest in him gathers momentum.”

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