€75m highest market value
€285m market value – Chelsea’s five-man shortlist for Xabi Alonso after Granit Xhaka snub
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New Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso will be forced to go back to the drawing board after failing in his attempts to reunite with Granit Xhaka in west London. The 33-year-old has reaffirmed his commitment to staying with Sunderland until the expiry of his contract in June 2028, despite strong interest from the Blues.
Chelsea reportedly submitted a €9.8 million bid for Switzerland international, which was promptly rejected by the Premier League outfit. Transfermarkt’s rumour system, which evaluates the accuracy of a deal happening, suggests the deal has only a 55% chance of materialising.
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G. Xhaka |  |
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With Enzo Fernández’s future still up in the air, it remains to be seen whether Chelsea will move for a central midfielder this summer. Alonso is keen to keep him at Stamford Bridge, but the 25-year-old appears to need convincing over staying at the club.
The Argentina international's situation will be resolved after the World Cup, but he is not the only Chelsea midfielder who could leave as the Blues will listen to offers for Andrey Santos and Romeo Lavia. Alonso will want to avoid Moisés Caicedo burning out after his participation in the World Cup, and that could persuade the Spaniard to make at least one move in the transfer market to strengthen his midfield depth.
Premier League experience key
His pursuit of Xhaka indicated Alonso is looking for an experienced midfield general, and the 44-year-old could do a lot worse than signing Bruno Guimarães. With four seasons of Premier League football under his belt, the Brazilian would represent a plug-and-play replacement if Fernandez leaves.
Market Value
B. Guimarães
Central Midfield
€70.00m
Newcastle are under no pressure to sell though, with Sandro Tonali on the verge of joining Tottenham in a deal wotth over €100 million. Guimarães is entering his peak years and may feel that with one last big contract, he should join a title contender rather than one that finished 10th in the Premier League last season. But the pull of playing under Alonso shouldn't be underestimated.
Staying on the subject of Premier League experience, Chelsea could get the best of both worlds with Adam Wharton or Alex Scott. Wharton, 22, was unfortunate to miss out on England’s World Cup squad following an impressive campaign with Crystal Palace where the Eagles won the UEFA Conference League, while Scott, also 22, helped Bournemouth qualify for the Europa League for the first time in the club’s history. Both are young but also possess at least two seasons of top-flight experience.
Market Value
A. Wharton
Defensive Midfield
€70.00m
Market Value
A. Scott
Central Midfield
€50.00m
Wharton has a market value of €70m and his club may look for a fee well beyond that, while Bournemouth are reluctant to sell Scott and have held talks about renewing his contract. There will be competition this summer if Chelsea pull the trigger with an official bid, with Manchester United and Liverpool keen on Wharton, while Scott may choose to reunite with Andoni Iraola at Anfield or sign for champions Arsenal as both are interested.
Looking to the future
Market Value
A. Bouaddi
Central Midfield
€50.00m
Chelsea have shown a tendency for recruiting young players for the future and often see Ligue 1 as the perfect breeding ground for that. With that in mind, Lille starlet Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, has emerged as a potential star of the future over the past 12 months and his performances for Morocco at the World Cup have only enhanced his profile. Lille will want over €70 million for their prized possession, but it may be worth investing if Bouaddi sticks around for at least five years. As a genuine holding midfielder, his arrival could unlock Caicedo to perform as a true box-to-box midfielder.
Market Value
P. Sučić
Central Midfield
€40.00m
And for a deal completely out of the left field, Alonso may be wise to look to the best performers from the World Cup. Petar Sučić, 22, starred for Croatia and scored in the 2-1 win over Ghana, before his side bowed of the tournament to Portugal in the round of 32 phase. With a market value of €40m, the young midfielder would represent a cost-effective option from Inter Milan if Chelsea want a proven midfielder with his best years ahead of him. What’s more, Inter are keen on central defender Trevoh Chalobah, opening the door to a potential swap deal if Alonso is keen.
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