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Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Xabi Alonso recently said he would like four or five centre-backs to choose from, and the Chelsea manager is getting closer and closer to that number.
Going into the summer, Chelsea had 10 centre-backs available as Aaron Anselmino and Axel Disasi returned from loans. Then, the Blues completed a £52m deal to sign Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace.
Since then, Alonso has made it clear he requires a mini exodus at centre-back. Trevoh Chalobah has joined Como, while Benoit Badiashile’s loan-to-buy deal with Napoli is due to be announced today.
Tosin Adarabioyo and Mamadou Sarr are the subject of interest, while Disasi is expected to leave the club in due course. But what for Anselmino? The Argentine is highly rated but cannot shake off his injuries.
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Aaron Anselmino: The defender’s situation at Chelsea
Injury limited Anselmino to just 13 appearances last season – 10 with Dortmund, three with Strasbourg. However, Xabi Alonso took him on tour and used him in four of the five friendlies in Australia and Asia.
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The former Boca Juniors ace is clearly liked by Alonso and reports this week state that Anselmino could stay. That’s despite picking up another muscle injury, this time in the friendly against Johor Darul Ta’zim.
A loan was expected with Anselmino in the same boat as Sarr. Young, huge potential, well-regarded at Chelsea but in need of game time. Now, reports say Anselmino could join N’Golo Kante’s Fenerbahce.
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According to Ekrem Konur, Anselmino has been offered to Fenerbahce this summer with the Turkish side supposedly considering a move to land the Argentine defender on loan. A third loan exit from Chelsea.
“Chelsea’s 21‑year‑old Argentine centre‑back Aaron Anselmino has been offered to Fenerbahce. Joined from Boca Juniors in 2024, spent last season on loan at Dortmund & Strasbourg,” according to Konur.
Why keeping Anselmino makes more sense than loaning him out
Two things should convince Alonso to keep Anselmino at Stamford Bridge. The first, allowing Chelsea to get to the bottom of his injuries, which have been largely muscular. That will require time with a physio.
That means staying put makes more sense, allowing Chelsea’s medical department to get to know the young defender. The second reason why Alonso should keep Anselmino this summer is his versatility.
Anselmino is naturally a centre-back, but featured on the left of a back three and as a left-back in a four-man defence during pre-season. This, despite the £15m signing from Boca in 2024 being right-footed.
His versatility and allowing Chelsea’s doctors to get used to his body, and why these injuries keep on repeating themselves, is important. To fulfill that, Chelsea need to keep Anselmino in West London.
It’s not the first time Fener have been linked with a Chelsea player. The Turkish club posted a statement last week denying the club’s interest in Jamie Gittens. But for Anselmino, things could be different.