Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso makes his Chelsea debut on Monday (Photo: Getty)
Chelsea have reportedly rejected Roma’s opening offer for Jamie Gittens but talks are set to continue over a possible transfer.
Xabi Alonso will make his debut in the Blues dugout on Monday night when they visit local rivals Fulham in their opening Premier League match.
But there is still a great deal of business the club needs to do, with their focus on offloading the many unwanted players still at Stamford Bridge.
This includes the likes of Nicolas Jackson, Mykhailo Mudryk, Liam Delap and Mamadou Sarr.
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Gittens also faces an uncertain future after a difficult and forgettable debut season following a £52million transfer from Borussia Dortmund last summer.
The 22-year-old scored just one goal and made five assists in 27 appearances across all competitions, before sitting out the second-half of the season with a hamstring injury
New £117m signing Morgan Rogers is expected to be the first-choice left-sided attacker under Alonso, which could restrict Gittens’ opportunities.
Jamie Gittens
Jamie Gittens has impressed during pre-season (Photo: Getty)
Roma are desperate to sign a player in that position and turned their attention to the England youth international after missing out on Alejandro Garnacho, who left Chelsea for Aston Villa.
talkSPORT report that Roma have made a loan offer for the winger, but they were quickly rebuffed by the west London side.
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Reports from Italy claim that talks between the two teams will continue over the coming days and that Gian Piero Gasperini’s side will make another offer.
Pedro Neto of Chelsea
Pedro Neto faces an uncertain future at Chelsea (Photo: Getty)
But it is said that Chelsea have no intention of letting Gittens leave this transfer window after impressing Alonso during pre-season.
[Mandatory Credit: Photo by Venron Yuen/Nexpher via ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock (17043648aq) Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea Football Club during open training at Kai Tan Stadium during the Hong Kong Football Festival 2026 in Hong Kong, August 4, 2026. HONGKONG-SOCCER/FOOTBALL-FEST, Hong Kong - 04 Aug 2026
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Venron Yuen/Nexpher via ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock (17043648aq) Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea Football Club during open training at Kai Tan Stadium during the Hong Kong Football Festival 2026 in Hong Kong, August 4, 2026. HONGKONG-SOCCER/FOOTBALL-FEST, Hong Kong - 04 Aug 2026](https://metro.co.uk/2026/08/23/nicolas-jackson-makes-decision-next-club-chelsea-delay-transfer-29440529/)
Moreover, they want to have adequate cover in the wide areas following the sale of Garnacho and with the future of Pedro Neto up in the air.
Neto has been linked with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and Al-Hilal, but those rumours have cooled with no club willing to pay Chelsea’s £100m asking price.
Alonso also has new arrival Geovany Quenda and Mudryk at his disposal, with Chelsea also rejecting a loan offer from Leeds for the Ukraine winger in the last few days.
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal before the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal FC and Borussia Dortmund at Emirates Stadium on August 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal before the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal FC and Borussia Dortmund at Emirates Stadium on August 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)