{"id":16830,"date":"2026-07-13T07:44:48","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T07:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=16830"},"modified":"2026-07-13T07:44:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T07:44:48","slug":"xabi-alonso-is-wrong-about-where-chelsea-need-to-strengthen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=16830","title":{"rendered":"Xabi Alonso is wrong about where Chelsea need to strengthen"},"content":{"rendered":"


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With the World Cup set to conclude, Xabi Alonso and Chelsea are likely to ramp up their transfer activity.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So far, the Blues have signed Marco Palestra from Atalanta, while Geovany Quenda and Emmanuel Emegha have also officially joined the club.<\/p>\n

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In terms of outgoings, Marc Cucurella has moved to Real Madrid and Andrey Santos is set for a switch to Premier League rivals Manchester United.<\/p>\n

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Why shouldn\u2019t Alvaro Carreras replace Marc Cucurella? He looks ideal!<\/h3>\n

The Real Madrid star is one left-back Chelsea are thought to be considering after Cucurella’s exit \ud83d\udcad<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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It is certainly going to be busy at Chelsea between now and the end of the transfer window, with Alonso keen to strengthen his squad further.<\/p>\n

Centre-forward doesn\u2019t need to be a priority for Chelsea<\/h2>\n

Journalist Simon Phillips has claimed on Si Phillips Talks Chelsea that Alonso has mentioned to the club that they may need to sign another striker.<\/p>\n

All things considered, though, it is not a position that needs prioritising. In Joao Pedro, Chelsea currently have one of the best No.9s in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

Last season, the Brazilian scored 15 goals and provided four assists in 35 appearances. It is a good return, especially considering it was his first campaign at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n

As already mentioned, Chelsea have also signed Emegha, while Liam Delap is still at the club.<\/p>\n

Delap wants to stay at Chelsea, but both the 23-year-old and Marc Guiu could leave west London before the window closes.<\/p>\n

However, that would not necessarily leave them depleted in the centre-forward position, as they still have Nicolas Jackson on their books.<\/p>\n

Jackson has returned to Chelsea following a loan spell at Bayern Munich and a decision on his future is yet to be made.<\/p>\n

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Nicolas Jackson or Liam Delap, which one are you keeping? Tell us who and why!<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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If the right No.9 is out there, perhaps Chelsea should not be too quick to say no. After all, this is a team who finished 10th last term.<\/p>\n

But if not, they do not need to sign one and can easily go into next season with Pedro, Jackson and Emegha as their striker options. It would not be a bad roster.<\/p>\n

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