Xabi Alonso picks eight key players at Chelsea, with two big stars missing from his list
Xabi Alonso has named Reece James, Cole Palmer, and six other Chelsea players as ‘untouchable,’ while Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella didn’t make his top eight list. Last week, Alonso and his coaching team visited Chelsea’s training ground at Cobham to get familiar before officially starting on July 1.
The BBC says their visit wasn’t about transfers, but it looks like it will be a busy summer at Stamford Bridge as they get ready for a new manager. Before signing as Chelsea’s boss, Alonso wanted to understand the club’s transfer plans. It seems part of that plan is to keep these eight players safe from being sold: Reece James, Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Levi Colwill, Estevao Willian, Joao Pedro, and Josh Acheampong.
According to The Athletic, Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella are not on Alonso’s untouchable list. Fernandez had a two-match ban in April after talking about his future and is linked to a big move to Real Madrid. Cucurella is wanted by Barcelona, plus Manchester United and Manchester City are also interested, says Mundo Deportivo.
Chelsea really want to keep Josh Acheampong, one of their academy graduates and part of Alonso’s untouchables. The 20-year-old defender played 30 games for Chelsea this season and has caught the eye of many clubs. Over the last six months, the club has turned down offers from Liverpool, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, and Juventus, according to TeamTALK.
Chelsea see Acheampong as a key player for the future, especially with Alonso now in charge. Besides those big clubs, Arsenal, Newcastle, Bournemouth, and Crystal Palace are also watching him closely.