Alonso's Chelsea Reset Targets Xhaka, Palmer Revival
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- Xabi Alonso officially started as Chelsea manager on 1 July 2026, inheriting a club that lifted the Club World Cup less than a year ago but now faces a season without European football after four years under BlueCo ownership.
- Chelsea are pursuing Granit Xhaka from Sunderland and in talks for Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria, with the club privately admitting they must recruit "ready-made starters" alongside young talent.
- Enzo Fernandez's future is uncertain after being dropped for two games in April for publicly angling for a move away; Chelsea paid £107m to Benfica in 2023 and would consider a sale if they can recoup that fee.
- Cole Palmer is considered one of Chelsea's few "untouchable" assets despite an injury-hit season and Thomas Tuchel omitting him from England's World Cup squad, saying he "was not as decisive or influential."
- Chelsea received 8 red cards in the Premier League last season — double the next-worst offenders — a disciplinary problem four predecessor managers failed to solve.
- Nicolas Jackson returns from a season-long loan at Bayern Munich, where a £56.2m obligation-to-buy clause was never triggered; he faces competition from untouchable Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and incoming Strasbourg forward Emmanuel Emegha.
- Robert Sanchez has failed to fully convince as Chelsea's No. 1; the club targeted AC Milan's Mike Maignan last summer before being put off by the asking price, with Mike Penders set to arrive from Strasbourg.
Why it matters: For Chelsea, Alonso inherits concrete problems: the worst disciplinary record in the Premier League (8 reds) and a goalkeeper position they tried to upgrade last summer before balking at AC Milan's asking price. BlueCo's pursuit of Granit Xhaka and Pep Chavarria marks a shift toward proven signings after years of stockpiling young talent.
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