Xavi 'to hold talks with Premier League giants after Barcelona sacking'

By Carter White | 26 May 2024

Chelsea are reportedly preparing to meet with outgoing Barcelona manager Xavi over the possibility of the Spaniard taking charge at Stamford Bridge next season.

Xavi is reportedly set to hold talks with a Premier League team following his imminent departure from Barcelona.

The 44-year-old has endured a chaotic second half of the season at the Spanish giants, with the Barca head coach revealing in January that he would be leaving the club at the conclusion of the campaign.

Despite this, a number of discussions with the club's hierarchy managed to persuade Xavi to reverse his decision, with the former Spain international opting to stay put, as announced in April.

However, just 30 days after that announcement, it was confirmed that Barcelona had opted to part ways with Xavi, ending his two-and-a-half-year spell as manager at the Catalan club.

Since making the high-profile return to Barca from Qatari outfit Al-Sadd in November 2021, Xavi has managed 142 competitive matches, winning on 90 occasions, guiding the club to La Liga supremacy over Real Madrid during the 2022-23 term.

Co-owner and Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly reacts after the match on March 11, 2024 © Reuters

Chelsea plan Xavi talks?

According to Portuguese journalist Pedro Almeida, Xavi could be in line for a swift return to management following his exit from Barcelona.

The report claims that Premier League club Chelsea are interested in making the 44-year-old the new man in charge at Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

It is understood that the capital club will meet with Xavi and his representatives over the possibility of joining the club this summer, with the Blues in search of a new head coach.

Despite a five-game winning run in the Premier League to round off a resurgent second half to the term, Chelsea decided to part ways with Mauricio Pochettino at the end of the season.

The Blues' incoming head coach will have a talented crop of young players to select from as they prepare to fight on the continental stage in the revamped Europa Conference League.

Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca celebrates after the match on February 13, 2024 © Reuters

Alternative candidates for the Chelsea job

Although Chelsea are heading into discussions with Xavi over the vacant managerial position, the Spaniard is not the only person in the frame to become the new boss at Stamford Bridge.

It is believed that the Blues are set to make an official approach for Leicester City head coach Enzo Maresca, who enjoyed a title-winning campaign in the Championship with the Foxes this year.

The acquisition of the Italian would not be cheap, though, with the 44-year-old having an £8.5m release clause in his current contract at the King Power Stadium.

As well as Maresca and most recently Xavi, Brentford's Thomas Frank and Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna have also been linked to the top job in West London.