Another deciding factor when it comes to Xabi Alonso and Chelsea could be the future of Cole Palmer, given previous feelings between the pair.
Cole Palmer’s output has hit a plateau following Enzo Maresca’s departure from Chelsea in January. Under Liam Rosenior and interim boss Calum McFarlane, Palmer has struggled to find the same form that made him the Premier League’s most dangerous creator last year.
His goal involvements have dropped from 33 last season to just 10 in the Premier League this season.
Frequent managerial shifts have forced Palmer into ever-changing roles, often being deployed on the right-hand side, which hasn’t helped.
But Xabi Alonso could be the man to transform Palmer back into the player we used to love.
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Xabi Alonso is an admirer of Cole Palmer
Back in 2025, it was reported by the Spanish media (E Noticies) that Cole Palmer had interest from Real Madrid during Xabi Alonso’s time at the Bernabeu.
It stated that Alonso loves Palmer’s creativity, vision, and ability to make a difference in the final third, qualities that have quickly turned him into one of the standout players in European football.
He also believed that Palmer would be the perfect fit for his system at the Bernabeu, which sounds promising for what he may have up his sleeve at Stamford Bridge.
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Xabi Alonso could give Cole Palmer the Florian Wirtz treatment
Xabi Alonso’s potential arrival could be what is needed to unlock Cole Palmer.
We’ve seen what he did with Florian Wirtz during his time in Germany. In Alonso’s 3-4-2-1, the two attacking midfielders operate as inverted number tens in the half-spaces, rather than being hugged to the touchline. This is exactly where Palmer thrives, drifting between the lines, picking the final pass, and arriving late in the box.
By granting Palmer the same creative freedom that Wirtz used to dismantle Bundesliga defences, Alonso would finally provide the freedom Palmer has lacked since Maresca’s departure.
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