Xabi tells five Chelsea players they can leave inside first week
Portuguese outlet To Ball names the five as Filip Jorgensen, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Alejandro Garnacho and Liam Delap, all cleared to negotiate exits with a combined value put at roughly £160m.
Several of the names will come as little surprise – Badiashile made just 16 appearances last season because of injury problems, Disasi spent the second half of the campaign on loan at West Ham, and Delap managed only two goals in 28 Premier League outings after his move from Ipswich Town.
Garnacho’s situation is the most advanced. Alonso confirmed as much in his first press conference as Chelsea boss on Monday, saying: “The situation is we have spoken with the sports directors, and there’s an interest in him from other clubs. So let’s see how it develops, but hopefully it finishes in the best possible way for all parties.”
The winger joined Chelsea from Manchester United for around £40m last summer but endured a disappointing debut season, scoring just one Premier League goal and missing out on Argentina’s World Cup squad. Serie A side Roma have been credited with interest in taking him on.
Beyond the individual departures, Alonso used his first Chelsea press conference to set out his broader vision for the club.
“For sure we want to be active, we want to be brave, we want to play good football, we want to compete well, but above that we need good mentality,” the Spaniard said. “I think that’s fundamental to understand what to do and what it takes in each moment. We want to show that we are ready to go.”
With pre-season only just underway, Alonso’s early moves suggest a squad overhaul is already taking shape at Stamford Bridge, even before a ball has been kicked in anger under the new head coach.
