Nagelsmann Chelsea's dream target as club begins wide search for new manager
Chelsea have identified Julian Nagelsmann as their preferred candidate to become the club's next permanent head coach, according to sources close to the club's hierarchy. The search was launched this week following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior after just 106 days in charge, a period that culminated in five consecutive defeats without scoring a goal.
The club's co-owners, Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly, are understood to have wanted Nagelsmann in 2023 before he ultimately rejected their approach. Sources indicate that while Nagelsmann liked the club and its people at the time, disagreements over the project's direction scuppered the deal. There is now a belief within Stamford Bridge that those issues could potentially be overcome as Chelsea seek a high-profile appointment to revive their fortunes after a disappointing eighth-place Premier League finish.
According to TEAMtalk insider Graeme Bailey, Chelsea have yet to make a formal approach to any candidate as they undertake a thorough due diligence process on a wide range of options. The situation is described as fluid, with the club casting a wide net and feeling no immediate pressure to rush an appointment. The process is being led by the ownership group, who are determined to secure a manager who can command instant respect from a disillusioned squad.
Among the other names under serious consideration is former Liverpool midfielder and Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso. Alonso, currently out of work after being dismissed by Real Madrid in January, has also been linked with the Liverpool job. However, with Arne Slot expected to remain at Anfield, Alonso's availability presents a potential opportunity for Chelsea. His profile as a young, tactically astute coach with a storied playing career aligns with the type of figure the Blues are seeking.
The shortlist extends well beyond these two headline names. Matthias Jaissle, the former RB Salzburg coach now managing in Saudi Arabia and often labelled the 'new Nagelsmann', is a confirmed candidate. Oliver Glasner, the Austrian who has impressed in the Bundesliga and Premier League, and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola are also on the radar. In a surprise development, former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who has excelled as head coach of Italian side Como, is being monitored by the club's decision-makers.
The search also includes managers currently working in the Saudi Pro League, with former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi, now at Al-Hilal, mentioned as a fascinating option. Domestic-based coaches have not been ruled out either, with Newcastle United's Eddie Howe noted as a potential candidate should his situation at St James' Park become uncertain. The broad scope of the search underscores the ownership's desire to leave no stone unturned.
The urgency of the appointment is heightened by Chelsea's dramatic late-season collapse under Rosenior, which included a historic goal drought and reported fractures within the dressing room. The new manager will inherit a squad packed with expensive talent but lacking cohesion and confidence, tasked with immediately returning the club to Champions League contention. Securing a manager of Nagelsmann's calibre, renowned for his tactical innovation and development of young players, would be seen as a major coup and a statement of intent for the club's ambitious project under the current ownership.
