Chelsea will look to make moves in the summer transfer window to hand Xabi Alonso the perfect squad to challenge at the top of the Premier League table next season.
Alonso has arrived at Stamford Bridge following a tumultuous campaign in west London, with the Blues finishing 10th in the table, failing to qualify for European competition and sacking two managers in the process.
Alonso will be tasked with steadying the ship and improving the Blues' fortunes on the pitch, much like he did with Bayer Leverkusen, leading the German side to an unbeaten season in claiming the domestic double in 2023/24.
Palestra may be joined by Granit Xhaka
Marco Palestra to Chelsea
The signing of a number of talented youngsters have already been agreed, prior to Alonso arriving at the club, but Chelsea have yet to announce a first signing of the Spaniard's tenure, although a deal to sign Atalanta wing-back Marco Palestra is understood to be close.
The 21-year-old will become Alonso's first signing at Stamford Bridge, but he is already working on a second and it may come as something of a surprise.
The Blues have made a move to sign 34-year-old midfielder Granit Xhaka - who made his name in the English Premier League with Chelsea's rivals Arsenal - from Sunderland.
Xhaka made the move to the Black Cats just last year having been part of that Leverkusen side under Alonso. And GIVEMESPORT understands he now wants to reunite with his former boss in west London.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano explained more about the potential move. He said: "Chelsea have started the conversations to understand how to try and get the deal done with Sunderland for Granit Xhaka and the agreement between Chelsea and Xhaka on the contract is not a problem.
"Xhaka told Chelsea in a very clear way he wants to go back to London, he wants to live in London, he wants to play for Chelsea, he wants to play for Xabi Alonso. So the connections are all going in that direction now. It's about reaching an agreement between clubs.
Sunderland were planning for next season with Xhaka
xhaka sunderland
"Sunderland are quite surprised. Sunderland were not expecting Granit Xhaka to inform them that he wanted to leave. They were building the squad for next season, believing that Granit Xhaka was going to be a crucial part of the team, but now Xhaka wants to go to Chelsea.
"Sunderland insist they don't want to sell, they want big money eventually, if there is a chance to open doors, but what I can tell you is that Chelsea are playing down reports about paying €30million or €40million for Granit Xhaka.
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"Chelsea's position would be to pay less in order to reach an agreement with Xhaka, not because the player is not worth that money, but because of the age. So now it's on the club-to-club, because on the player's side he's ready to accept any contract condition, and it's not a problem. I told you already, personal terms will not be an issue, he wants to play for Xabi Alonso. He wants to play London, and he wants to play for Chelsea."
Xabi Alonso smiles in a press conference while working as Real Madrid manager Related
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