Chelsea’s potential deal for Kerim Alajbegovic could have serious impact on 2 Blues stars’ futures at club: Reports

Chelsea could reportedly see wingers Jamie Gittens and Pedro Neto depart if they go through with a move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Kerim Alajbegovic. The 18-year-old was on loan at RB Salzburg last season.

Having joined Levetkusen’s youth academy in 2021, the Bosnia & Herzegovina teenager is set to return to his parent club this summer after a loan spell in Austria. Alajbegovic was included in Alonso’s matchday squads at Leverkusen but didn’t make a senior competitive appearance while the Spaniard was at the helm.

As per Standard Sport football reporter Sam Tabuteau, Alajbegovic could reunite with Alonso at Stamford Bridge. However, that would plunge the futures of Gittens and Neto into doubt.

Neto yearns to play in the UEFA Champions League amid reports of a reunion with former Blues boss Enzo Maresca at Manchester City. He has made over 100 appearances for the club in two seasons, contributing 19 goals and as many assists.

While the Blues aren’t actively looking to sell the Portugal international, their resolve could be tested if a substantial offer comes around. Meanwhile, Gittens had an injury-plagued first season with the Blues in 2025-26.

A hamstring injury affected his game time as the Premier League giants finished 10th to miss out on European football, with Gittens scoring once and providing five assists in 27 games across competitions.

How did Chelsea’s Pedro Neto fare at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Chelsea winger Pedro Neto had a quiet campaign for Portugal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Spain won with a 1-0 extra time victory over 10-man holders Argentina in the New Jersey final last week.

In five games at the quadrennial event in the USA, Mexico and Canada, the 26-year-old’s only goal contribution was an assist in the Selecao’s 1-1 campaign-opening draw with DR Congo, assisting Joao Neves’ sixth-minute opener.

Making his first appearance at the FIFA World Cup, the Chelsea winger failed to open his account in his next four outings. The last of them was a 1-0 Round of 16 loss to eventual winners Spain, with substitute Mikel Merino bagging a stoppage time winner. Merino would repeat the trick in the 2-1 quarter-final victory over Belgium as well as he went on to win the competition.