Chelsea are set to be busy in the transfer market with a number of moves seeing progress in recent days as Xabi Alonso nears his first pre-season with the club
The transfer window is not yet open, but Chelsea are hard at work in the market for new boss Xabi Alonso. Marc Cucurella’s exit to Real Madrid has already been completed, but Alonso will hope to see new faces at his disposal come next month.
The Blues already have the likes of Emmanuel Emegha, Geovany Quenda and Dastan Satpaev arriving at Cobham but there is work to be done after the club failed to qualify for Europe last season. Alonso will have the opportunity to fully focus on domestic football with a lighter schedule.
Fewer players will be required, but Alonso will undoubtedly want to have a say on his squad and to leave a mark ahead of the new Premier League season. Moves in and out appear to be on the horizon.
FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
football.london rounds up the latest Chelsea transfer news.
Personal terms agreed
Granit Xhaka and Chelsea have agreed on personal terms, according to Sky Sports Germany. football.london understands that there has been no contact between Sunderland and Chelsea over a transfer and the Black Cats will not be receptive to offers for their star midfielder.
Xhaka has a relationship with Alonso from their time at Bayer Leverkusen. The pair won the Bundesliga together in a successful spell in Germany.
Trevoh Chalobah bid submitted
Como have submitted a £23.3million bid for Trevoh Chalobah football.london understands. The Blues want a package worth £35m for the defender who was called up late to England’s World Cup squad.
Cesc Fabregas is said to be keen on landing the 26-year-old for the Italian side but other clubs are interested in his signature. Chalobah played 47 times for the Blues last season, with only five of those appearances from the bench.
Medical done
Marco Palestra is reported to have completed his medical ahead of joining Chelsea. The Italian, 21, is said to have signed a six-year deal ahead of being unveiled, with an option until 2033 available.
The Blues agreed a deal worth in excess of £43m to sign the defender from Atalanta, beating Inter Milan to his signature. Palestra spent last term on loan at Cagliari.
The west London side watched the player closely last season. Cagliari’s sporting director Guido Angelozzi said he was on the receiving end of “non-stop” phone calls.
Angelozzi said: “Chelsea had been following him for a year, they were always at the stadium, in Cagliari and away. They kept calling me non-stop, they wanted to know everything. The data, obviously, they already had, but they were looking for insights on the boy’s character and qualities.”
