Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso (Image: Ayush Kumar)
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It has not taken long for Xabi Alonso to realise the extent of the job he and his staff have on their hands at Stamford Bridge.
The first two Premier League matches of the campaign showed Chelsea's way home in Alonso's debut season; through the attacking talent the Spaniard has at his disposal. Crucially, though, it also showed the Blues' kryptonite - their inability to control matches against top-flight opposition.
Alonso bemoaned his side's lack of control, seemingly after every game in the league this season. Chelsea's defence have been seriously leaky, but not all the blame can be put on the back three. The midfield, in many ways, has been equally culpable.
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The Blues are now without a win in their last three Premier League games; losing to Arsenal and Brentford, while being held to a draw with newly-promoted Hull City at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have only been able to call upon star midfielder Moises Caicedo once this season - a 14-minute cameo against former club Brighton before he limped off with a recurrence of the calf injury that has plagued his start to the campaign - and the effects have been felt by Alonso.
After the Blues struck a £125million deal with Manchester City to sell Enzo Fernandez on deadline day, the west Londoners tried to source another midfield option for Alonso. However, Chelsea could not get one over the line and instead left their new manager rather short of midfield candidates.
On the face of it, it might not seem that way. With Caicedo injured, with hope he will be back once the international break has finished, Chelsea were left with Romeo Lavia, Valentin Barco, Reece James and Malo Gusto as options for the engine room.
Jordan Henderson was injured at the time, but has since returned - making his Chelsea debut in the 3-0 defeat at Brentford last week.
Lavia's injury-troubled past mean Chelsea supporters do not feel at ease with him as one of the main options, while Barco, who has shown promising signs since moving from Strasbourg in the summer transfer window, is new to England and the Premier League.
James and Gusto are also seen as midfielders by Alonso, but both are natural full-backs. While the England and France international can produce quality moments in the middle, both have shown signs of inexperience when it comes to playing in the role this season.
Chelsea could revisit the midfield market when the January transfer window comes around, in order to strengthen Alonso's squad for the remainder of the season, and for the long run. Here's four midfielders football.london understands to be on the club's radar.
Adam Wharton
Out of all four, Wharton looks like the most complicated deal to strike. Especially in January.
Crystal Palace were insistent they wouldn't sell Wharton over the summer despite approaches from multiple Premier League clubs regarding the England international. The 22-year-old would likely cost north of £100m - and maybe even more if the Eagles were considering a mid-season sale.
Adam Wharton
Chelsea have a long-term interest in signing Adam Wharton(Image: Sebastian Frej)
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Chelsea are long-term admirers of the former Blackburn Rovers midfielder. The Blues considered all options when it came to adding a midfielder over the summer, but Stamford Bridge insiders consistently dismissed their chances of making a move for Wharton before the start of the 2026/27 campaign.
Alex Scott
Chelsea saw a £64m offer rejected by Bournemouth for Scott in July. Cherries sources said at the time, and throughout the summer, that the 23-year-old midfielder was not for sale at any price in the transfer window and he would remain at the Vitality Stadium for the upcoming season.
Scott, though, now has less than two years remaining on his Bournemouth contract. He has already rejected one extension offer from the Cherries and that has now put the south coast club in a precarious position when it comes to his future.
Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott
Chelsea remain very interested in Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott(Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth)
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Do Bournemouth look to move Scott on in January, knowing that if they wait until the summer - and he still hasn't signed an extension - then his value could have decreased? Chelsea remain interested in the England international.
Manu Kone
Chelsea strongly considered making a late move in the summer transfer window for Kone. AS Roma, however, were in no position to sell the France international and blocked a move.
Kone still has around three years left on his deal at the Stadio Olimpico, so the Rome-based club are not in as much of a sticky situation as Bournemouth are with Scott.
Manu Kone
Manu Kone is a Chelsea target(Image: Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Lamine Camara
Chelsea thought they had signed Camara late on deadline day. After striking a £47m agreement with AS Monaco for the Senegal international, it was all about finalising the details of a long-term contract.
That is until Monaco pulled the plug on the deal, leaving Chelsea officials furious.
Lamine Camara
Chelsea saw a deadline day move for Lamine Camara collapse right at the death of the summer transfer window(Image: Sebastian Frej)
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At the time of writing, it is unclear whether the Blues will go back in for Camara, especially because of how Monaco operated. The 22-year-old, though, is clearly appreciated by Alonso and the sporting leadership team at Stamford Bridge.