Xabi Alonso has officially started his job as Chelsea manager and a big month awaits the Spaniard in terms of the summer transfer window
It’s official: Xabi Alonso has started work as Chelsea manager. It feels like a long time coming since the Spaniard was confirmed as the new Blues gaffer back on May 17, but we are finally here.
While it felt like a lifetime of waiting for Chelsea supporters, keen to see Alonso in his new colours, it will surely have been an anxious wait for the man himself as well. Even though he officially begins his role today (Wednesday, July 1), Alonso has already been working behind the scenes in tandem with the club’s sporting leadership team in order to improve the squad in time for his debut season at Stamford Bridge.
So far, Chelsea have managed one signing (although we still wait on official confirmation from the club) in Marco Palestra from Atalanta. The Italy international defender has agreed a deal to sign for the Blues with a fee in excess of £43million being paid to the Serie A club for his services.
FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
Chelsea are working tirelessly behind the scenes to give Alonso everything he wants in time for his first season as a coach in England. With that being said, football.london takes a look ahead at a big month coming up for Alonso and the Blues – and what would make it a dream July for both parties.
Chelsea’s dream July and what is required
When we came into the summer transfer window, Chelsea’s plan was clear: the Blues wanted to bring in a new centre back, a midfielder and a versatile attacker. Due to business being completed already in the window, further targets have been added.
For instance, Marc Cucurella moving to Real Madrid for £52m means Chelsea wanted further cover at left back. In Palestra, they have signed someone who can cover both sides of the defence and also play wing back. Alonso, though, wants to sign Rayo Vallecano defender Pep Chavarria as well, according to Stamford Bridge insiders.
The 28-year-old Spaniard is an orthodox left back but if he is signed, he won’t be a direct replacement – so to speak – to Cucurella. Jorrel Hato’s improvement and progress in the second half of last term has not gone unnoticed and the Netherlands international is set to be rewarded with a more prominent role in the first team in Alonso’s debut season.
Elsewhere, Chelsea’s pursuit of Crystal Palace centre back Maxence Lacroix continues. The Blues opened talks with their London rivals last week over a potential deal for the France international, who is said to be keen on a switch to Stamford Bridge. At the time of writing, however, no bid has been lodged.
Lacroix is Chelsea’s No.1 target when it comes to central defenders but the Blues also have an interest in Como’s Jacobo Ramon (we will come back to him). Alonso will hope the sporting directors can strike a deal with Palace sooner rather than later but Palace are not expected to allow the Frenchman, who has three years left to run on his Selhurst Park contract, leave on the cheap.
Ramon, meanwhile, could be one to keep an eye on later in the transfer window, especially if Chelsea sell some of the centre backs currently on the club’s books. Trevoh Chalobah is a big target for Como, managed by Cesc Fabregas, with the Italian side having at least one offer turned down by the Blues for the Cobham graduate.
As reported last month, Chelsea will allow Chalobah to leave Stamford Bridge this summer if their valuation of the defender is met. Sources say the Blues have placed a £35m price tag on the England international’s head, with Inter Milan also keeping a close eye on developments.
Following the arrival of the aforementioned Palestra, Chelsea are open to selling Malo Gusto this summer. Manchester City, now managed by former Blues head coach Enzo Maresca, are keen on the France international right back but they will have to pay the west Londoners something in the region of £75m for his services.
Enzo Fernandez, meanwhile, is still of interest to Real Madrid. However, there has not been – at the time of writing – any direct club-to-club contact between Los Blancos and the Blues over the signing of the Argentina international, who made it clear to his employers of his desire to leave back in May.
From Chelsea’s perspective, nothing has changed re Fernandez. The Blues will sell if their £120m valuation is met but if not, then he could be part of Alonso’s plans next season. We will have to wait and see on that one.
If Chelsea can sell all three of Chalobah, Gusto and Fernandez in the next month, and if all three valuations are met, the Blues will be looking at a significant windfall of £230m to help fund more signings this summer.
Tyrique George looks set to leave Chelsea permanently this summer after spending the second half of last season on loan with Everton. The 20-year-old has less than 12 months remaining on his Stamford Bridge contract and the Toffees are in pole position to sign the Cobham graduate on a permanent basis.
There was a £25m option to buy George inserted in his loan contract at the Hill Dickinson Stadium but Everton did not want to pay such a fee. Instead, the Toffees are negotiating a lower figure with Chelsea at the moment – and there is optimism a deal can be completed, sources say.
Back to potential incomings, Chelsea had an £8m offer rebuffed by Sunderland over the weekend for Granit Xhaka. Alonso is keen on a reunion with the 33-year-old ex-Bayer Leverkusen midfielder but the Blues’ offer was considered far too low by the Black Cats, who signed the Switzerland international for £17m less than 12 months ago.
Sunderland sources insist Xhaka is not for sale this summer but there is nothing to suggest, at the time of writing, that Chelsea have been deterred by their Premier League rivals’ stubborn stance. Alonso will be the figure driving a move for Xhaka and the Spaniard will be hoping to add him to his midfield options this summer.
A busy month awaits. The Alonso era is go.
