Xabi Alonso is set to begin his four-year contract as Chelsea manager in July, with transfer discussions already underway with the club’s board.
The incoming Spaniard is expected to be handed significant power over transfer decisions, both this summer and in the years ahead.
Chelsea struggled badly for goals last season, scoring just five times in their final nine Premier League matches of the campaign.
Before any arrivals or departures, Alonso has more than £423million worth of attacking talent to assess, though numerous players are expected to leave this summer.
Cole Palmer, Estevao Willian and Joao Pedro are immediately identified as key attacking options for Alonso to build around next season.
Estevao is currently sidelined with a grade four hamstring injury that has ruled him out of this summer’s World Cup, and the club will follow careful return-to-work protocols.
Chelsea sources say the club is prioritising signing a left-sided wide option in the coming months, with Morgan Rogers among the names heavily linked.
Aston Villa are expected to demand a significant fee for Rogers, with the club set to push interested parties hard over the England international’s valuation.
Jamie Gittens struggled in the first half of last season but showed enough raw talent to merit another chance, having cost Chelsea more than £50m from Borussia Dortmund.
Alejandro Garnacho, however, played almost double Gittens’ minutes across all competitions and failed to make a convincing case for his future at Stamford Bridge.
There were reports of boos from Chelsea supporters during Garnacho’s debut season, and whispers suggest he could be moved on after just one year at the club.
Pedro Neto is considered a viable bench option, though question marks over his attitude and mentality have been noted, with his output falling below expected levels.
Geovany Quenda, a 19-year-old Portuguese winger, will arrive from Sporting CP this summer and is expected to feature in the first-team picture in west London.
Quenda’s versatility is considered an asset, as the teenager is capable of playing on either side of the attack as he adjusts to life in England.
Academy talents Jesse Derry and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen could also feature more prominently, depending on how Chelsea approach the summer transfer window.
Cole Palmer is expected to operate as Alonso’s primary No.10, with supporters hoping the manager can replicate the influence he had on Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen.
Joao Pedro, who scored 20 goals in all competitions during the 2025/26 season, is another No.10 option and is seen by many as being at his best further up the pitch.
Enzo Fernandez could depart if an offer in the region of £120m arrives, with Chelsea unwilling to stand in his way should that figure be met.
Emmanuel Emegha will arrive from Strasbourg and, having not been selected for the Netherlands World Cup squad, will have additional time to train under Alonso.
With both Nicolas Jackson and Emegha potentially at the club next season, questions will be raised over the futures of Liam Delap and Marc Guiu.
Delap managed just two goals in his debut season, while Guiu barely featured and is expected to leave, with Shim Mheuka and Dastan Satpaev likely to be loaned out.
