Top News

Xabi Alonso’s tenure at Chelsea is still in its early days, but the new manager has already encountered his first major challenge.

In a significant departure from their usual approach, Chelsea handed Alonso a managerial role that comes with enhanced control over transfer decisions, marking a new era in the club’s sporting structure.

The former Liverpool midfielder has already played a central role in shaping Chelsea’s early summer recruitment plans, which have so far included the signing of Italy international Marco Palestra.

Since BlueCo took ownership of the club in 2022, Chelsea have largely focused on securing promising young players on lengthy contracts. That strategy emerged after a disappointing 2022-23 campaign prompted the American owners to move away from targeting established stars and instead invest in youthful potential.

However, Alonso’s appointment as manager, rather than a traditional head coach, has prompted Todd Boehly and his fellow investors to adopt a more flexible and manager-driven approach to squad building.

Under this new philosophy, Chelsea identified a reunion between Alonso and his former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka, now at Sunderland, as a key target for the summer window.

Xhaka played a pivotal role under Alonso at Leverkusen, helping the club secure their first-ever Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 season while going unbeaten in both the league and the DFB-Pokal.

The Swiss international’s move to Sunderland last summer also proved transformative, as he guided the Black Cats to Europa League qualification and became one of their most influential figures.

However, Chelsea’s ambitions of bringing Xhaka back to London—where he previously spent seven years with Arsenal—have been thwarted after Sunderland rejected an initial £8 million bid.

The Wearside club reportedly viewed the offer for the 33-year-old, who remains under contract until the summer of 2028, as disrespectfully low and swiftly ended negotiations.

According to reports from The Athletic, “Following discussions, he has pledged his commitment to Sunderland and is set to remain at the Stadium of Light, where he is considered a key figure.”

Although Xhaka was reportedly excited by the prospect of reuniting with Alonso, he has now reaffirmed his dedication to Sunderland as they prepare for the new campaign.

With this setback, Alonso will need to reassess his plans and look for alternative options as he seeks to mould a Chelsea side capable of replicating the tactical success he achieved at Bayer Leverkusen two years ago.