{"id":12512,"date":"2026-05-25T23:31:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T23:31:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=12512"},"modified":"2026-05-25T23:31:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T23:31:01","slug":"alonso-said-chelsea-may-have-to-replace-first-team-regular","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=12512","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Alonso said&#8230;&#8221; &#8211; Chelsea may have to replace first team regular"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Chelsea are going to sign at least two defenders this summer \u2013 and one of them could be replacing first team regular Marc Cucurella.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><em>If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Chelsea\u2019s sporting directors have taken a vast amount of very justified criticism in the last few months, and there hasn\u2019t been much they can do about it.<\/p>\n<p>Now the transfer window is opening, they can finally start to make amends. Our writer Simon Phillips has a long piece out about their plans, coming from a source at the club.<\/p>\n<h2>Chelsea could be forced to replace first team regular in summer shuffle<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s in defence that the changes will start, according to the source.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cXabi Alonso has said that he ideally wants to sign two new defenders,\u201d Phillips writes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cInitially I believed that was centre backs, although there is a chance it could be one centre back and a left back to replace Marc Cucurella. A lot depends on other departures and how many centre backs we lose\/sell.<\/p>\n<p>Cucurella did appear to be waving to fans at full time yesterday, and with two years left on his deal now is the time he would have to be sold if he doesn\u2019t sign up to a new deal.<\/p>\n<h2>In other news\u2026<\/h2>\n<p>As well as those major defensive changes, it sounds like Chelsea are considering changes in goal. But right now there are other priorities, and we have our doubts that a big signing will be made.<\/p>\n<p>Phillips also reported on the attributes of the players the Blues are going to look at, both physically and mentally.<\/p>\n<p><strong>DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES \u2013 STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips\u2019 SPTC podcast here:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SPTC Podcast! Fresh Xabi Alonso to Chelsea news! Summer Transfer Plans! FA Cup Final Preview!\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yiYy60DQcxI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<section class=\"more-stories std-mgn-b\">&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<header class=\"col-s-12 std-mgn-t\">More Stories about <span class=\"topic\">Xabi Alonso<\/span><\/header>\n<div class=\"post-container col-s-4\">\n<p>\t\t\t&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-cntr\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-19T203033.235-190x107.jpg.webp 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-19T203033.235-245x138.jpg.webp 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-19T203033.235-320x180.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-19T203033.235-414x233.jpg.webp 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-19T203033.235-630x354.jpg.webp 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-19T203033.235.jpg\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-160476 has-webp lazyload\" alt=\"Xabi Alonso on the touchline.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-19T203033.235-190x107.jpg 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-19T203033.235-245x138.jpg 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-19T203033.235-320x180.jpg 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-19T203033.235-414x233.jpg 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-19T203033.235-630x354.jpg 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"\/><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-container col-s-4\">\n<p>\t\t\t&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-cntr\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Getty-Images-2-190x127.jpg.webp 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Getty-Images-2-245x163.jpg.webp 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Getty-Images-2-320x213.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Getty-Images-2-414x276.jpg.webp 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Getty-Images-2-630x420.jpg.webp 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4500\" height=\"3000\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Getty-Images-2.jpg\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-154099 has-webp lazyload\" alt=\"Gary Neville doing punditry for Sky.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Getty-Images-2-190x127.jpg 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Getty-Images-2-245x163.jpg 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Getty-Images-2-320x213.jpg 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Getty-Images-2-414x276.jpg 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Getty-Images-2-630x420.jpg 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"\/><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-container col-s-4\">\n<p>\t\t\t&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-cntr\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/The-Chelsea-FC-Cobham-training-ground-and-academy-building.-190x107.jpg.webp 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/The-Chelsea-FC-Cobham-training-ground-and-academy-building.-245x138.jpg.webp 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/The-Chelsea-FC-Cobham-training-ground-and-academy-building.-320x180.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/The-Chelsea-FC-Cobham-training-ground-and-academy-building.-414x233.jpg.webp 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/The-Chelsea-FC-Cobham-training-ground-and-academy-building.-630x354.jpg.webp 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/The-Chelsea-FC-Cobham-training-ground-and-academy-building..jpg\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-112396 has-webp lazyload\" alt=\"The Chelsea FC Cobham training ground and academy building.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/The-Chelsea-FC-Cobham-training-ground-and-academy-building.-190x107.jpg 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/The-Chelsea-FC-Cobham-training-ground-and-academy-building.-245x138.jpg 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/The-Chelsea-FC-Cobham-training-ground-and-academy-building.-320x180.jpg 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/The-Chelsea-FC-Cobham-training-ground-and-academy-building.-414x233.jpg 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/The-Chelsea-FC-Cobham-training-ground-and-academy-building.-630x354.jpg 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"\/><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<p><!-- Article End -->\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chelsea are going to sign at least two defenders this summer \u2013 and one of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11175,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12512"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12512\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}