Chelsea transfer priority becomes crystal clear as Xabi Alonso’s dream rebuild takes shape
Chelsea have enjoyed an excellent start to the summer transfer window, signing Marco Palestra and Morgan Rogers, but there’s still room for improvement.
Xabi Alonso in Chelsea training(Image: Chelsea FC)
The Chelsea sporting leadership team need to do whatever it takes to sign Maxence Lacroix and John Stones. The Blues have enjoyed an excellent start to the transfer window, significantly bolstering Xabi Alonso’s starting lineup with two marquee signings, but there’s still plenty of work to be done.
Chelsea began by prising Marco Palestra from Atalanta. The Blues forked out about £47million to sign the 21-year-old, who had recently been named the Italian top-flight defender of the season following his impressive performances while on loan at Cagliari.
On paper, Chelsea had just signed another young player, but the sporting leadership team had secured the signature of one of the most in-form and promising defenders in Europe. Palestra ranked third in the Serie A for successful dribbles (81) and completed more than any other defender across Europe’s top five leagues.
In 37 appearances, the Italian also had the fifth most touches in the opposition box (67) while scoring one goal and providing four assists. Standing at six feet and one inch tall, he prided himself as one of the most physically gifted players in the Serie A, boasting the highest average top speed of 27.96 km/h.
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Palestra predominantly featured at right wing-back last term and, with Alonso expected to deploy his famous back-five formation, he could be one of the first names on the teamsheet. A few weeks later, the Chelsea sporting leadership team further bolstered the manager’s side again, this time with the signing of Morgan Rogers.
Last season, the former Aston Villa talisman ranked first or second among forwards in the Premier League for progressive passes (132), passes into the final third (529), line-breaking passes (100), line-breaking passes in the final third (82), big chances created (13), line-breaking passes leading to a goal (five), and goals from outside the box (three).
If Alonso is to deploy a back-five, which requires two narrow attacking midfielders to support the striker, leaving the wing-backs to provide the width, Rogers could also be one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Chelsea have made great progress in improving the starting lineup, but there’s still work to be done. If the Blues are to compete on all fronts next season and qualify for the Champions League, the sporting leadership team now need to bolster Alonso’s options at centre-half.
Lacroix and Stones would be two very good additions to the squad. Although the Crystal Palace defender wouldn’t necessarily arrive as the world-class centre-half that Chelsea have longed for, he’s a great profile with a high ceiling, and there’s no one better available on the market at the moment.
As for the former Manchester City defender, who’s currently a free agent following the expiry of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, he would be just as valuable on the pitch as he would be off it. With no European football next season, the Blues will only play once a week, maybe twice every so often.
So, Chelsea will be able to carefully manage the 32-year-old’s workload. If the Blues could keep Stones fit and available, they would get the very best out of a centre-half who, not that long ago, was once among the very best in his position.
Without blocking the pathway of Josh Acheampong or the arrival of a world-class centre-half later down the line, Lacroix and Stones would take Alonso’s squad to the next level. The Chelsea sporting leadership team can’t afford to drop the ball…
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