Xabi Alonso will face a baptism by fire as Chelsea manager this summer as he looks to turn the Blues into title contenders
Incoming Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has a number of priorities to sort out in his first summer at Stamford Bridge. However, the defence is perhaps particularly deserving of attention after failing to impress for long stretches this past season.
The Blues’ return of 58 goals scored was actually the joint-fifth-highest of any team in the Premier League. However, only eight teams conceded more than Chelsea (52), which suggests that’s where a large portion of the blame for their 10th-place finish lies.
With Levi Colwill out for effectively the whole season through injury, the Blues were expected to find alternative solutions at centre-back. But even then, managers Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior struggled to field the same partnerships consistently due to other fitness setbacks.
Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah formed the most frequent tandem in central defence, with others rotated in. However, Maxence Lacroix could represent a bargain pick-up after RMC Sport reported he could have played his last game for Crystal Palace.
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A large portion of the defensive foil that’s helped light the path to Palace’s success in recent years, the 26-year-old is reportedly available for a fairly modest fee of £35million. In the grand scheme of Chelsea’s other investments in recent years, that’s a snip for a Premier League-proven asset in the prime of his career.
Given Fofana and Colwill’s fitness issues in recent years, another senior centre-back presence looks like a major requirement. However, left-back also looks set to become a major concern amid reports Marc Cucurella has handed in a transfer request.
Mundo Deportivo reported Cucurella has his heart set on a return to Barcelona, who would need to pay around £40m for his signature. That would necessitate the arrival of a new left-back at Stamford Bridge, even though Jorrel Hato is already at the club as an alternative.
To that point, Valentin Barco is already seemingly waiting in the wings as the ideal choice. The Argentina asset has already announced he’ll be leaving Chelsea’s sister club, Strasbourg, after impressing over the past season-and-a-half in France.
The BlueCo connection promises to streamline any negotiations over a deal, which makes a move for Barco even more appealing. The South American has played his best football in Ligue 1 as a midfielder but initially joined from Brighton as a left-back.
That could make him the perfect deputy to give Hato a chance to make the left-back role his own. Chelsea have also already secured the signature of Brazilian left-back Denner, who will arrive from Corinthians this summer.
Right-back takes care of itself with Reece James and Malo Gusto continuing their rotation, with Josh Acheampong also in that conversation. However, there remains some uncertainty in the goalkeeper position behind No. 1 choice Robert Sanchez.
The Sun reported that back-up Filip Jorgensen has asked the club to explore a move away after failing to get more minutes in west London. If Jorgensen leaves, that could see Gabriel Slonina promoted to the deputy role while 23-year-old Teddy Sharman-Lowe takes on a more senior position as third choice.
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If Chelsea boss Alonso gets the ideal signings to improve his backline this summer, here is how their defence could look next term:
Goalkeeper: Robert Sanchez, Gabriel Slonina, Teddy Sharman-Lowe.
Right back: Reece James, Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong.
Centre back: Levi Colwill, Maxence Lacroix, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Mamadou Sarr.
Left back: Jorrel Hato, Valentin Barco, Denner.
