Chelsea’s search for midfield reinforcements is already producing familiar names around Xabi Alonso. Reports in Argentina link Bayer Leverkusen’s Exequiel Palacios with a move to Stamford Bridge.
Palacios endured a frustrating 2025/26 season. Injuries restricted his involvement and he finished the campaign with just over 1,500 minutes played across all competitions. He also managed only one assist during the entire season.
That output is a long way from the form he showed during Alonso’s most successful period at Bayer Leverkusen.
But the latest claims come from journalist Fernando Czyz on DSPORTS Radio. The suggestion is that Palacios could become an option for Chelsea following Alonso’s arrival. This is due to the strong relationship between the pair in Germany.
Alonso knows Palacios better than most
Exequiel Palacios was one of the key figures in Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga-winning campaign in 2023/24. The midfielder established himself as a regular starter under Alonso. In addition, he contributed six goals and six assists as the German club secured the first league title in their history.
He remained an important member of the squad the following season. Although his attacking numbers dropped, he still made 38 appearances. Also, he recorded one goal and one assist… And ended up linked with Manchester City.
According to the claims in Argentina, Alonso has long appreciated Palacios’ qualities. He had even considered him during discussions surrounding a potential move to Real Madrid before his switch to Chelsea.
Whether that translated into concrete interest is another matter, but it underlines how highly the Spaniard appears to rate the 27-year-old midfielder.
What happens next
For now, there is no indication of formal talks between Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen.
No transfer fee has been mentioned and there have been no reports from Germany suggesting negotiations are underway. Instead, this appears to be a link created by the reunion factor between player and manager.
Even so, Chelsea’s midfield plans under Alonso will inevitably attract attention. Palacios is one of the players most closely associated with the coach’s success at Leverkusen.
After a difficult season disrupted by injuries, the Argentine may not be one of the obvious names expected to emerge in Chelsea’s transfer plans. Yet his previous importance under Alonso means reports connecting the two are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.