Xabi Alonso agreement reached as Chelsea approach could end Liverpool hopes

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Liverpool.com or go back to LFC Live.

Xabi Alonso might well be heading to the Premier League this summer, with the former Liverpool midfielder on the radar of Chelsea ahead of a possible appointmentFormer Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso.(Image: Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)Jamie Carragher and Joe Cole are in agreement that it might be now or never for Xabi Alonso to become Liverpool head coach — though Arne Slot is expected to keep his job this summer.Alonso's availability has regularly been put forward as a case for Slot being moved on, even though there are huge mitigations for why the season has not gone to plan at Anfield. The Spaniard has been out of work since being fired by Real Madrid in January.READ MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold faces fresh Real Madrid chaos and Jose Mourinho stormREAD MORE: Jamie Carragher makes Xabi Alonso to Liverpool prediction amid Chelsea talks - 'I'm sure he would'"I can understand why (Chelsea) would go for Xabi Alonso," Carragher said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football."It felt like, less than 12 months ago, he was the new kid on the block, if you like, in terms of big managers, you’re thinking whether he could be the next... sort of like Pep [Guardiola]."Great playing career, then goes into management, has a great start, doesn’t quite work out at Madrid, but I think Madrid made a mistake in getting rid of him."I think it would be a great coup for Chelsea.

I just thought, maybe me kidding myself, obviously I’ve still got good relations with Xabi, but when players like Stevie [Gerrard] or Xabi go into management, I almost step back a little bit.Xabi Alonso has been strongly linked with Chelsea job(Image: FADEL SENNA, AFP via Getty Images)"I don’t want to be the type of guy that’s always asking questions or trying to find out something."I think he would love to manage Liverpool one day, I’m sure he would. But Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in European football right now."I think once you manage one of Liverpool’s rivals, as Chelsea are, I think it makes it a little bit more difficult.

I don’t see how you go from Chelsea to Liverpool. It’s just Xabi Alonso’s there, and this place would light up again with him in the hot seat."Alonso's former teammate, Bolo Zenden, said this week that he should avoid Chelsea because it is too big a risk.