Xabi Alonso will be arriving as Chelsea manager this summer. In the eyes of many fans, he is the one who can turn things around. He has done so in the past with Bayer Leverkusen, taking a relegation contender and turning them into the only Invincible champions in Bundesliga history. The task might be just as big at Stamford Bridge as well.
Chelsea finished the season in 10th. And they were pretty much in relegation form over the last few months of the campaign, as things completely derailed under the management of Liam Rosenior. Calum McFarlane took interim charge but was not able to turn things around.
Alonso is expected to have a big say when it comes to Chelsea’s transfer matters. And it is expected that he could try to reunite with some of his former players, both from Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid.
Alonso’s time at Real Madrid was not a success. But he did work successfully with a few players. One of them was Arda Guler, who has admitted that he remains in contact with his former manager. According to the Mirror, he told TRT Spor:
“The truth is that we had a brilliant relationship. I felt as though he’d handed me the keys.
“It was exactly what I was looking for, honestly. Now he’s signed for Chelsea. I hope everything goes well for him. Of course, we’re still messaging each other.”
Could Chelsea try to sign Guler this summer for Alonso?
Guler has emerged as a regular starter for Real Madrid this season. That was not the case under Carlo Ancelotti. And it is clear to see that the Turkish international appreciates the chance that he got.
But that does not automatically mean that he would be ready to leave Real Madrid for Chelsea. At the same time, Los Blancos might not be willing to let him go either.
At the same time, one has to look at the options available at Chelsea. They already have Cole Palmer, who could do wonders under Alonso if he rediscovers his form and fitness. Then there is also Estevao, who has similar potential.
So, Chelsea might not even need Guler at this point in time. There are other positions where they are far weaker.
Why Guler to Chelsea could happen
There is one way Guler to Chelsea could happen. And that road goes through the future of Enzo Fernandez.
The Argentine midfielder is believed to be open to the prospect of leaving this summer. But it might be tough for clubs to meet the asking price of Chelsea. It is believed that the Blues want around £120 million.
Real Madrid are a club that has been linked with Fernandez for years. Could they end up offering Guler as part of a swap deal?
Sourav Mahanty
Sourav Mahanty has covered teams like Chelsea, Celtic, Real Madrid, Manchester United, PSG and more over a career that has now lasted a decade. His work has been featured on Sports Illustrated, Athlon Sports, SB Nation, FanSided, The Sportster and aggregated through Bleacher Report and NewsNow. Outside of football, he is also interested in basketball, cricket and professional wrestling.
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