Xabi Alonso is already shaping Chelsea’s transfer agenda, prioritising a reunion with Granit Xhaka while evaluating four former players from his Leverkusen and Real Madrid days — Álvaro Carreras, Jacobo Ramón, Gonzalo García and Kerim Alajbegovic — to address clear needs at left-back, centre-back, striker and left wing as he rebuilds the squad.
Why Granit Xhaka is Alonso’s priority at Chelsea
Xabi Alonso pushing for Granit Xhaka would be an unmistakable statement: a manager prioritising tactical familiarity and midfield leadership over marquee youth. At 33, Xhaka brings Premier League-proven resilience after an impressive season back in England with Sunderland and a longstanding working relationship with Alonso from their Leverkusen days. If a deal with Sunderland can be struck, Xhaka offers Chelsea a deep-lying pivot who can impose structure, calm transitions and mentor younger midfielders — exactly the kind of stabiliser Alonso values.
Four Alonso alumni who could fit Chelsea’s rebuild
Álvaro Carreras — pragmatic left-back cover
Carreras represents a low-risk, functional option at left-back. He spent time under Alonso at Real Madrid and showed promise during earlier spells in Portugal. Chelsea’s left-back situation needs reinforcing, and Carreras would provide defensive balance and familiarity with Alonso’s demands. He isn’t a glamorous upgrade, but his positional discipline and experience in Alonso’s system make him a sensible short-term solution while the club targets a long-term option.
Jacobo Ramón — a developing centre-back with momentum
Ramón barely featured under Alonso at Real Madrid but has since established himself after moving to Como, where regular minutes and consistent form propelled him into the spotlight. He offers a blend of technical comfort and mobility that suits ball-playing defensive principles. For Chelsea, Ramón would be a bet on trajectory rather than pedigree: relatively affordable, progressive, and compatible with Alonso’s preference for defenders comfortable on the ball. He could complement any experienced centre-back addition.
Gonzalo García — a forward Alonso trusts
Gonzalo García has already shown an eye for goal in the minutes he received under Alonso, delivering goals early in the manager’s tenure at Madrid. He represents a profile Chelsea lack: a young, mobile striker capable of finishing and linking play. With questions over depth up front, García would be a strategic addition — not an instant superstar, but a forward with upside who fits Alonso’s attacking patterns and could partner or rotate with existing options without disrupting João Pedro’s role.
Kerim Alajbegovic — high-upside winger for the future
Alajbegovic didn’t log minutes under Alonso at Leverkusen but was on the coach’s radar and has since progressed at Red Bull Salzburg and at international level for Bosnia and Herzegovina. He offers close control, quick combinations in tight spaces and a nose for goal — traits Alonso has publicly highlighted. Chelsea’s left-wing depth needs reinvigoration; signing Alajbegovic would be a forward-looking move that balances immediate squad needs with long-term resale and development potential.
What these targets say about Alonso’s Chelsea
Alonso’s reported wishlist blends pragmatism with familiarity: an experienced organiser in Xhaka to steady the midfield, alongside a mix of short-term fixes and developmental prospects across the spine and flank. That blueprint suggests Chelsea will prioritise tactical cohesion and character over headline-grabbing signings.
The challenge will be balancing immediate competitiveness with long-term planning — negotiating fees, wages and squad roles — but these candidates fit a coherent strategy: trusted profiles who understand or can be groomed into Alonso’s system.
What happens next
Expect Chelsea to move decisively on midfield leadership first; Xhaka would signal an early and clear imprint from Alonso. Subsequent moves will likely oscillate between filling urgent gaps (left-back and centre-back) and targeting younger attackers who can grow into the manager’s style.
Ultimately, Alonso’s recruitment choices will reveal whether Chelsea are rebuilding incrementally around experience and identity, or attempting a rapid overhaul. Either way, these signings would reshape the squad toward a more controlled, possession-oriented template.
Football365
