{"id":16734,"date":"2026-07-12T17:09:35","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T17:09:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=16734"},"modified":"2026-07-12T17:09:35","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T17:09:35","slug":"xabi-alonso-has-asked-chelsea-to-sign-alvaro-carreras-and-two-stats-show-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=16734","title":{"rendered":"Xabi Alonso has asked Chelsea to sign Alvaro Carreras and two stats show why"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"post-376980\">\n<div class=\"article-follow\">\n<div class=\"article-sharing google-follow\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/wp-content\/themes\/grv-media\/img\/google-discover.svg\" alt=\"\"\/> <span>Add as preferred source on Google<\/span>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Real Madrid defend Alvaro Carreras<\/strong> <strong>is a player new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso knows very well.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Alonso worked with Carreras during his brief spell in the Santiago Bernabeu dugout before he was sacked.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-grvmedia-grv-video GRVMultiVideo\"\/>\n<p>However, it looks as though Alonso could be set for a reunion with the full-back at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar\" data-story-id=\"5a9c74ee-9dfb-4c17-80a3-f12c2bcadb5e\" data-story-name=\"Talk Chelsea\" data-comment-id=\"36a4a558-827d-405d-a226-11349146f27d\" data-story-slug=\"talk-chelsea\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-content\">\n<h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">Who would you rather see at left-back next season, Jorrel Hato or Lewis Hall?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"grv-talking-point__subtitle\">Hall is being linked with a return to Chelsea following Marc Cucurella&#8217;s move to Real Madrid \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf8<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/06\/jorrel-hato-lewis-hall-1781515133670-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Split image of Chelsea's Jorrel Hato and Newcastle United's Lewis Hall\" class=\"wp-image-373410\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/06\/jorrel-hato-lewis-hall-1781515133670-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/06\/jorrel-hato-lewis-hall-1781515133670-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/06\/jorrel-hato-lewis-hall-1781515133670-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/06\/jorrel-hato-lewis-hall-1781515133670-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/06\/jorrel-hato-lewis-hall-1781515133670-1140x641.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/06\/jorrel-hato-lewis-hall-1781515133670-750x422.jpg 750w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/06\/jorrel-hato-lewis-hall-1781515133670-1200x675.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"Credit: Jacques Feeney\/Offside\/Offside\/Serena Taylor\/Newcastle United via Getty Images\">Credit: Jacques Feeney\/Offside\/Offside\/Serena Taylor\/Newcastle United via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Chelsea are thought to be interested in Carreras, with Alonso reportedly pushing for the transfer. A couple of his stats last season possibly show why.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tackles-and-interceptions\">Tackles and interceptions<\/h2>\n<p>According to Sport, Alonso is driving Chelsea\u2019s interest in Carreras, who was great at winning the ball back during the 2025\/26 campaign.<\/p>\n<p>As per Scout Lab, Carreras made 3.40 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes last term, placing him in the 88th percentile among his positional peers for that area.<\/p>\n<p>The left-back could struggle for game time under Jose Mourinho next season following Marc Cucurella\u2019s move to Real Madrid.<\/p>\n<p>Pep Chavarria is another left-back Chelsea are considering as they prepare for life after Cucurella.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-getty-images-media\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"722\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2233021237-1024x722.jpg\" alt=\"Alvaro Carreras of Real Madrid controls the ball\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2233021237-1024x722.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2233021237-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2233021237-768x541.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2233021237-1536x1083.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2233021237-1140x804.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2233021237-750x529.jpg 750w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"MADRID, SPAIN - AUGUST 30: Alvaro Carreras of Real Madrid&#10;controls the ball during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and RCD Mallorca at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on August 30, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle\/Getty Images)\">Photo by Denis Doyle\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ball-recoveries\">Ball recoveries<\/h2>\n<p>Another area where Cucurella\u2019s teammate Carreras excelled last term was ball recoveries. The 23-year-old ranks in the 99th percentile after making 7.17 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, which is quite impressive.<\/p>\n<p>All in all, Carreras is clearly a full-back who is capable of winning the ball back and is quick to it. That and the fact that Alonso has worked with him before explains Chelsea\u2019s interest.<\/p>\n<p>Whether the Blues sign Carreras, Chavarria or someone else, Jorrel Hato is in with a great chance of being the team\u2019s first-choice left-back in the new campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Chelsea plan to use Hato in the left-back position, with the Dutchman capable of playing there and in central defence.<\/p>\n<p>A lot of eyes will be on Alonso\u2019s backline next season. Under Calum McFarlane and Liam Rosenior, Chelsea\u2019s defence was pretty poor. It is an area that he undoubtedly has to address.<\/p>\n<div class=\"see-more-wrapper lazy see-more-open see-more-blank extra-content\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/transfer-news\/xabi-alonso-has-asked-chelsea-to-sign-alvaro-carreras-and-two-stats-show-why\/none\" data-type=\"subscribe\">\n<div class=\"see-more subscribe\">\n<figure class=\"newsletter\">\n<div><svg class=\"loading\" width=\"118\" height=\"36\" viewbox=\"0 0 118 36\"><use href=\"#dots-svg\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<div class=\"signup\"><span class=\"hf\">Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><script>grvLoadAnalytics = () => {(function(d,s,i){var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)(0),j=d.createElement(s);j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/www.googletagmanager.com\/gtag\/js?id=\"+i;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(document,'script','G-E7VRWQHDP6');(function(d,s,i){if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){var e=d.createElement(s);var n=d.getElementsByTagName(s)(0);e.type=\"text\/javascript\";e.async=true;e.src=\"https:\/\/static.chartbeat.com\/js\/chartbeat.js\";n.parentNode.insertBefore(e,n);}})(document,\"script\",\"G-E7VRWQHDP6\");(function(){let s=document.createElement(\"script\");s.async=true;s.dataset.domain=\"thechelseachronicle.com\/MFj4XQ\";s.src=\"https:\/\/api.publytics.net\/js\/script.manual.ping.min.js\";document.getElementsByTagName(\"head\")(0).appendChild(s);})();if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){setTimeout(function(){!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=();t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)(0);s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script','https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');fbq('init','663509325503632');fbq('track','PageView');fbq('track','ViewContent',{content_name:'Xabi Alonso has asked Chelsea to sign Alvaro Carreras and two stats show why',content_category:'Transfer News',content_ids:(376980,\"xabi-alonso\"),content_type:'post',});},3000);}}<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Add as preferred source on Google Real Madrid defend Alvaro Carreras is a player new&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16735,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16734","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\/16734","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=16734"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16734\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}