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The search for Chelsea’s next permanent manager is set to intensify in the next couple of weeks as BlueCo set a deadline for the appointment, while also reducing the number of names on their list.
As things stand, nothing has been made concrete in terms of Chelsea’s actual hunt for a specific manager. But for some time, Xabi Alonso, Marco Silva and Andoni Iraola have been touted as the front-runners.
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Alonso remains out of work after being sacked by Real Madrid in January, while Marco Silva and Andoni Iraola are both contracted with Fulham and Bournemouth. Iraola has confirmed he will be leaving.
Silva, meanwhile, is yet to sign a new deal at Fulham but remains out of contract this summer. Chelsea have now set a deadline for their new appointment. Kaveh Solhekol delivered an update on Sky Sports.
Kaveh Solhekol provides the latest on Chelsea’s manager hunt
According to Solhekol, Chelsea’s decision-makers want a new manager appointed by the middle of next month. There are two reasons for that, the first, allowing the new boss to have his say in the window.
Then, to take his new Chelsea squad on their pre-season tour of both Australia and Asia, with the first pre-season game scheduled for July 28. They face Western Sydney Wanderers at the Accor Stadium.
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Solhekol also says Chelsea have a shortlist of five or six managers, which includes Alonso, Silva and Iraola. A number that has clearly been reduced, amid initial reports saying Chelsea had considered 20 options.
“Chelsea are aiming to have a new manager in place by the middle of next month. They now have a shortlist, and on that shortlist, I believe there are five or six names they are focusing on,” Solhekol said.
“Names on that list include Xabi Alonso, Andoni Iraola, and Marco Silva. They want a new person involved in transfer market planning, and so he is in charge of when Chelsea leave for their pre-season tour.”
Which managers are now already out of the running?
Fabian Hurzeler is a manager Chelsea did background work on, but the German gaffer is set to remain with Brighton, having put pen to paper on a new contract. Hurzeler has starred since arriving in England.
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Then there is Porto manager Francesco Farioli, fresh from guiding Porto to the Liga NOS title ahead of Jose Mourinho’s unbeaten Benfica. Andre Villas-Boas is said to have rejected Chelsea’s move for Farioli.
Indeed, Farioli spoke over the weekend about “next season”, suggesting he is going to remain at Porto. Others like Oliver Glasner, Niko Kovac, Xavi and plenty more names have been touted with Chelsea.
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