What's the goal for Chelsea next season? Does Xabi Alonso attempt to pull off an unforeseen heist and steal Arsenal's Premier League title?
It might have seemed far-fetched at the end of the 2025/26 season, but Chelsea are making good progress in the summer transfer window, and they have already got one over champions Arsenal by swiping Morgan Rogers from under their noses.
England's Morgan Rogers in action
Rogers, 23, has become the most expensive British footballer of all time this month, leaving Aston Villa for Stamford Bridge in a £117m deal.
It's an ambitious gambit, but one the Blues believe will pay off handsomely. Certainly, Alonso thinks he has signed a significant upgrade on Alejandro Garnacho.
How Rogers will prove an upgrade on Garnacho
Rogers appealed to Chelsea and Alonso because of his capacity to play centrally or out on the left. He is a natural-born runner, with desire to crash into the box and try and score goals.
In that, he contrasts with Cole Palmer, his good friend, whose aptitude as a playmaker could form a healthy alliance behind the centre-forward, whoever that may be.
When out wide, Rogers' role won't differ too greatly from what was expected of Garnacho, but the 22-year-old will not play under Alonso next year, having instead signed for Aston Villa on loan, with a conditional chance to make the move permanent next year.
It's clear that Alonso has landed an upgrade. Rogers is more physical and more effective on the ball. He scores more goals and works his way into creative spaces with far more consistency. He is sharper and smarter besides.
For Garnacho's Chelsea career to be over so soon - having joined from Manchester United for £40m last year - is somewhat sad, but not the end of the world. Alonso can be a ruthless coach, and he has brought in a player who will lift the Blues closer to the title-winning heights they are desperate to reach.
Premier League Form 2025/26
Stats (* per 90)
Matches (starts)
Goals + Assists
Touches*
Accurate passes*
Big chances created
Key passes*
Possession lost*
Succ. dribbles*
Ball recoveries*
Tackles + interceptions*
Duels won*
Rogers will elevate Chelsea's left side, but they could still do with a bit more depth out on that side - especially if Alonso favours Pedro Neto on the right.
With that in mind, Chelsea are working on a deal to bring in a supporting act for Rogers who may still prove an upgrade on Garnacho.
Chelsea close to signing another big Garnacho upgrade
Garnacho may kick on and become a star in the Premier League, but Chelsea don't have time to mollycoddle an underperforming winger such as him. In Rogers, Alonso has signed someone who will lift the frontline from the get-go.
Garnacho-Chelsea-Bournemouth
And he could strengthen his side's position even further by completing a deal for Kerim Alajbegovic, with BILD reporting that Chelsea have offered €40m (£34m) to sign the Bayer Leverkusen youngster, with the relevant parties anticipating a deal will be completed soon.
However, Juventus also have a vested interest in the 18-year-old, but Chelsea will hope that Alonso's past association with Leverkusen could hold sway during the finer phase of negotiations.
Typically playing off the left, Alajbegovic is similar to the likes of Rogers and Garnacho in that he is an inside forward, cutting in and striking on goal. Last season, he spent the year in the Austrian Bundesliga with RB Salzburg, scoring nine goals and supplying three assists across only 22 starting appearances.
For one so young and inexperienced, the Bosnian had no right playing so confidently at the World Cup, scoring, but also dazzling with his dribbling and duelling.
Kerim Alajbegovic at the World Cup
Stats (* per 90)
Matches (starts)
Goals
Assists
Shots (on target)*
Accurate passes*
Chances created*
Succ. dribbles*
Def. contributions*
Duels won*
In a way, he shares with Garnacho a natural swagger and bit, but you could argue that his stocks are rising as the Argentinian's fall, and Chelsea could hit the jackpot in signing him now, with Rogers already established as the leading man on the left.
This means Alajbegovic can settle in as the Three Lions man's understudy. It's a pragmatic move which will suit all parties. He might not be the finished product yet, but he plays with far more ferocity and freedom than Garnacho has over the past few years in the Premier League,
karim-Alajbegovic-bosnia-world-cup
Moreover, he would be happy to play the second-fiddle part. It's difficult to imagine Garnacho having been happy with playing beneath Rogers in Alonso's Chelsea first team.
All told, Chelsea are piecing together an exciting team under Alonso, and if they manage to pull off a statement deal for Alajbegovic, who has the potential to become a superstar, it might provide them with the depth they need to challenge for titles.
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