The name Xavi Hernandez, the former Spanish coach of Barcelona, has emerged as a leading candidate to take over as head coach of Chelsea in the English Premier League, according to the website "Fichajes."

This nomination comes amid the possibility of the current Chelsea coach, Enzo Maresca, leaving to take over as manager of Manchester City, succeeding Pep Guardiola. Maresca is seen as capable of maintaining the club's English identity, while his departure would open up an opportunity for Xavi to take the coaching position at the London club.

The report indicated that Xavi will be available from mid-2024 after concluding his coaching tenure with Barcelona, and his philosophy based on possession and attack aligns with the club owner's vision for Chelsea, making the Spaniard the ideal choice to develop the team and maintain the continuity of the sporting project.

The same source added that Chelsea has included Xavi's name on a shortlist of candidates, alongside others such as Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva. However, the Spanish coach's experience makes him the most prominent choice to lead the team and restore its position among the top ranks.

The coming weeks are expected to be crucial in determining whether the initial contacts will turn into official negotiations, amid a training market that has become as volatile as the player market, with close attention being paid to Manchester City's decision regarding Guardiola, which will be the key factor in deciding the fate of Chelsea's vacant managerial position.