Chelsea hope to confirm Xabi Alonso as their new manager as soon as NEXT WEEK after stepping up their pursuit of the former Liverpool star. Alonso, 44, has been out of work since January, having been sacked by Real Madrid following a tumultuous seven-month spell in charge at the Bernabeu . The Spaniard previously managed Bayer Leverkusen , where he oversaw a remarkable unbeaten season and ended Bayern Munich's 11-year stronghold on the Bundesliga title as well as winning the German cup. After