After a difficult 2025/26 season drew to a close, Chelsea now turn their attention to an important summer of rebuilding under incoming manager Xabi Alonso.
The Spanish coach officially begins his four-year contract at Stamford Bridge on July 1, giving supporters plenty to look forward to after a miserable campaign.
Alonso will reportedly be granted more power over recruitment than his predecessors, with sources indicating he is aligned with the club’s sporting leadership team on transfer plans.
Chelsea are prioritising three key areas in the upcoming window: centre-back, central midfield, and the left wing, with at least three starting-level additions targeted.
The club are understood to be looking for ready-made players with Premier League or top-level experience, with character and personality said to be important criteria for new arrivals.
BlueCo want Alonso to build a winning culture at Stamford Bridge, seeking players capable of turning adversity into a positive and contributing to a shift in mentality.
Restoring belief within the squad will be another major task, with Enzo Fernandez publicly criticising the club over the handling of former head coach Enzo Maresca last season.
Fernandez has since expressed a desire to leave Chelsea before next season begins, with the club reportedly willing to let him go should a £120 million offer arrive, despite preferring to keep the Argentina international.
Marc Cucurella has also been linked with an exit, with Atletico Madrid said to be interested in the Spain international, adding further uncertainty ahead of Alonso’s arrival.
One of the most intriguing decisions facing Alonso is where to deploy Cole Palmer, Chelsea’s talisman, in order to get the England international back to his best form.
Should Alonso adopt the three-back system he used so successfully at Bayer Leverkusen, Palmer could fill a role as one of the wide No.10s, a position Florian Wirtz excelled in under the Spaniard.
Despite speculation linking Palmer with a return to Manchester, Chelsea view the 24-year-old as untouchable and have no intention of selling him this summer.
Defensive improvement will also be a clear priority, with Chelsea conceding 52 goals during the 2025/26 season, nine more than the previous campaign.
During Alonso’s unbeaten 2023/24 season with Leverkusen, his side conceded just 24 goals, with second-place Stuttgart shipping 39 by comparison, underlining his ability to build solid defensive structures.
Alonso, during his time at Real Madrid, addressed the importance of defensive solidity directly: “Defence is a fundamental part of our identity. Defence wins titles.”
