Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Xabi Alonso is getting ruthless at Chelsea as he looks to trim down his squad ahead of the new Premier League season.
With just 17 days until Chelsea kick off their Premier League campaign against Fulham, the clock is ticking loudly for Xabi Alonso.
The silver lining? A pre-season tour gave Alonso an up-close look at every fringe player and talent in action. He’s run the rule over who fits his vision and who’s merely taking up space.
Now the trial phase is over, Alonso must make ruthless cuts before opening day arrives.
Head Coach Xabi Alonso of Chelsea FC gestures
Photo by Edmund So/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Five players train away from the Chelsea first-team
BBC reporter Nizaar Kinsella has given an update on the current state of the Chelsea squad, which even involves a number of players training away from the first team.
Chelsea are keen to reduce their 41-man squad and will need to offload 16 players to meet the Premier League’s 25-man squad limit.
Five players, Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana, Axel Disasi, Marc Guiu and Caleb Wiley, are not training with the first team as they are on the transfer list.
Meanwhile, seven players have yet to join the squad after their summer break: Enzo Fernandez, Reece James, Valentín Barco, Malo Gusto, Maxence Lacroix, Morgan Rogers and Jordan Henderson.
Chelsea player ratings vs Juventus
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Five justified exits for Chelsea
Benoît Badiashile and Axel Disasi are costly defensive liabilities who simply can’t stay fit or consistent. David Datro Fofana had his chances, but he’s nowhere near clinical enough to lead Chelsea’s line.
As for Marc Guiu and Caleb Wiley, they’re simply victims of a packed depth chart. With shiny new star signings blocking their path, leaving Stamford Bridge is the only way these two don’t end up wasting critical developmental years rotting on the bench.