Newly-appointed Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso lavished praise on club captain Reece James as the star who has the 'DNA' that his teammates should replicate.
A graduate of the Blues' famed Cobham academy, James made the jump to the senior team after a loan spell at Wigan Athletic in the 2018-19 campaign. He has made 229 appearances for his boyhood side across all competitions, racking up 16 goals and 31 assists.
James is renowned for his pin-point crossing, physical dominance, set-piece prowess and tough-tackling nature. However, he has been held back by a plethora of injuries that have kept him sidelined for nearly 150 games across his senior career.
Despite the injury woes, James was pursued by a host of top European clubs over the past few seasons. However, earlier this year, he displayed his unwavering loyalty and commitment to Chelsea by signing a contract extension until 2032.
Alonso, who joined Chelsea after being sacked by Real Madrid mid-way through the 2025-26 season, heaped praise on the English defender's mentality and ability. In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, the 44-year-old said:
"He (James) can do everything. He can attack from inside or outside. He can deliver, he's good at set-pieces, he has blue DNA, which is very important, and we transmit that to the whole team and new players. He's going to be the captain."
James is currently on duty with England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He has made three appearances (two starts) thus far and has helped his side make the semi-final of the competition.
Italian giants make first bid to sign wantaway Chelsea star - Reports
According to Sky Sports Italia's Gianluca Di Marzio (via Football Italia), Serie A side AS Roma have made their opening bid to sign Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea.
The Blues signed Garnacho from fellow Premier League side Manchester United last summer for a reported £40 million fee. The Argentine winger was expected to play a big role under Enzo Maresca; however, he failed to live up to expectations in his debut season at Stamford Bridge.
He made 43 appearances across all competitions in the 2025-26 season, but only 22 of them were starts. He bagged eight goals and four assists but was criticized for his inconsistent play.
It is believed that Garnacho wants regular starting minutes and is refusing to train under newly-appointed Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso. According to Di Marzio, Roma are interested in bringing the 22-year-old to the Stadio Olimpico.
The Giallorossi have made an offer to sign Garnacho on loan for €5 million with an option to buy him permanently for €35 million. With Chelsea reportedly seeking a fee of around €50 million, it remains to be seen if Roma can match the Blues' valuation.