Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo is struggling with a calf injury
Moises Caicedo is struggling with a calf injury(Image: Visionhaus)
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Xabi Alonso has insisted Chelsea will not be making a move for a free agent despite missing out on a late move for Lamine Camara in the summer transfer window.
The Blues had a written agreement in place with AS Monaco for the Senegalese midfielder to move to Stamford Bridge but the Ligue 1 club surprised everyone by pulling the plug on the deal after the 11pm deadline.
The failure to land Camara has left Alonso and Chelsea rather short in the midfield department with Enzo Fernandez moving to Manchester City earlier on in deadline day. There has been some speculation over the past week regarding the Blues making a move for a free agent, with Gini Wijnaldum's name doing the rounds recently.
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Chelsea sources, though, were quick to play down any links with the Dutchman, who has since moved to Al-Ittihad. Renato Sanches and Yves Bissouma's names have also done the rounds on social media in recent days.
Alonso, however, is happy with his current crop of midfielders. The Blues boss has Valentin Barco, Romeo Lavia, Malo Gusto and Reece James available as his central midfield options - with the latter two considered natural full-backs.
Moises Caicedo is also an option usually for the Chelsea manager but he has had an injury-disrupted start to the campaign and will miss Wednesday night's Carabao Cup third round tie at home to Leeds United.
Asked if the Blues will consider, or have considered, going into the free agent market, Alonso delivered an emphatic response.
"No," said the Spaniard before adding: "Well, we have looked. But no."
Alonso is hopeful that Caicedo will be fit enough to take some part for Chelsea when they welcome Hull City to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon. The Ecuador international is involved in training with the rest of the Blues squad but Alonso is being cautious.
Moises Caicedo limps off
Moises Caicedo limped off in Chelsea's win over Brighton(Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside)
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Caicedo suffered a calf problem in the build up to Chelsea's Premier League opener with Fulham and Alonso has admitted he made a mistake by rushing the midfielder back too soon after he limped off in the win over Brighton at the end of last month.
"He has a problem in his calf," explained Alonso, who has ruled the Ecuador international out of the Leeds cup tie. "It was the same that he had before Brighton.
"I wanted to have Moi. Probably it was my mistake to push him too early, so that's why I’m cautious now not to make the same mistake."
Chelsea's midfield were strongly criticised after the defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. For the Gunners' winning goal, Martin Odegaard was allowed to roam into the Blues box, after not being tracked, before slotting the ball into the back of the net.
"We made a lot, but in private," Alonso said when asked what he made of the midfield performance on Sunday. "We do our own private analysis, we talked with the players, and for sure we know that there are things to improve.
"But I said after the window was closed, I'm fully committed with this squad, I'm happy, and we need to deal with injuries but once we have all the players, many important players back, I think that we will be able to take a step forward."