Chelsea is getting ready for a big change as Xabi Alonso lets go of 12 players from the first-team training.
Chelsea currently has around 12 players training separately from the main squad, as manager Xabi Alonso looks to move on some players before the September 1 transfer deadline. The Blues will end the first weekend of the Premier League with a trip to Fulham on Monday Night Football, hoping to kick off their season strongly.
Alonso is eager to get off to a great start as Chelsea’s boss, having signed nine first-team players this summer. These include a British record £117 million deal for Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa and a £52 million signing of Maxence Lacroix, a centre-back from Crystal Palace.
As the manager (not just a head coach), Alonso has had the freedom to shape the team, focusing on players that fit his 3-4-2-1 system. He has added quality and depth, especially at wing-back, bringing in Pep Chavarria and Marco Palestra from Rayo Vallecano and Atalanta.
Alonso has also allowed four players—Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, Andrey Santos, and Tyrique George—to leave Stamford Bridge this summer. Despite this, Chelsea still has a very large squad with over 40 first-team players. The club is eager to cut numbers before September 1, and Alonso has been clear about which players he wants to move on.
According to The Telegraph, about 12 players are training apart from the main squad at Cobham. Players like Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap, Axel Disasi, and Tosin Adarabioyo could leave before the window closes. Jackson has been linked with a move to Aston Villa, while Delap is available but the £40 million price tag is putting off interested teams.
In past years, Chelsea used the separate training group mainly for players they wanted to sell. But this time, they’re also using it to help players like Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson work on their fitness.
Meanwhile, Malo Gusto, Pedro Neto, and Enzo Fernandez are training with Alonso’s main group, even though their futures at the club are uncertain. Manchester City is keen to sign Fernandez after Rodri’s move to Barcelona. Chelsea agreed back in May to let the Argentine leave for £120 million but set an August 14 deadline for bids. Since City hasn’t met that price, Chelsea have told Fernandez’s team he’s not for sale this window, so he looks likely to play in Monday’s match.
Alonso is in no hurry to sell Gusto, who has a £75 million price tag and has attracted interest from Liverpool. Neto also has a big £100 million price tag, so unless a massive offer comes from a Saudi club, he probably will stay at Chelsea.