Former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips claims manager Xabi Alonso could persuade the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella to stay at Stamford Bridge.
The club have given Alonso a final say in the decision-making on many aspects of the club, including new signings. Speaking to Betway, Wright-Phillips said that Alonso’s greater control could give hope to disenchanted players that the Blues are finally moving in the right direction:
“I think Xabi Alonso is a fantastic manager. Of course, he wasn’t given a lot of time at Real Madrid, and he had a lot of difficult people to deal with while he was there. But the way it seems to me is that Chelsea are going to give him the run of the club in terms of what transfers are coming in and having a say in it.”
“I think that could be the thing that helps players stay, as he can now use that as a persuasive tool to keep people at the club. Players like Enzo, Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and even the likes of Cucurella or Reece James will want to stay at that club, but they want to know the club’s stable and moving forward at the same time. I think Xabi coming into Chelsea will stabilise that.”
Fernandez and Cucurella seem intent on leaving
While Alonso’s stabilising presence will certainly be welcomed, it does appear that his arrival may have come too late to prevent certain players from departing the club.
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Bridges have been burned, and Fernandez doesn’t appear to be interested in staying under any circumstances, with several factors playing into his decision.
The two-match ban for comments he made about Real Madrid, the sacking of Enzo Maresca, the breakdown in contract talks, and the failure to secure Champions league football are all said to be reasons in him wanting a transfer. Both Real and Manchester City are said to be keen on signing the Argentinian internaitonal.
Cucurella, meanwhile, also appears unlikely to change tack, especially with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid pursuing him.
Alonso’s appointment offers hope of a fresh start for Chelsea
Many of the issues following the Clearlake/Boehly takeover have stemmed from the disconnect between the head coach and the sporting directors.
Fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that the change in structure under Alonso will bring with it greater success on the pitch.
Read more about the Chelsea First Team Squad for 2025/26 here