Xabi Alonso reveals new Chelsea transfer update as 'clear plan' takes shape | OneFootball

It’s shaping up to be another very busy summer window for the Blues

Xabi Alonso has confirmed that he intends to trim down Chelsea’s squad before the end of the transfer window.

The Blues have embarked on another summer of change as they look to build a squad in their new manager’s image ahead of next season.

Chelsea have spent heavily, bringing in Morgan Rogers for a club-record £117million fee last week, but they have also raised more than £120m through the sales of Andrey Santos, Marc Cucurella and Tyrique George.

Winger Alejandro Garnacho, meanwhile, joined Aston Villa on loan with a conditional obligation for a permanent £43m move next summer.

Chelsea are expected to sanction more departures over the coming weeks, with Trevoh Chalobah the subject of interest from Serie A side Como, while striker Marc Guiu is also assessing his options amid shock talks over a deal for Brighton frontman Danny Welbeck.

That surprise move is also likely to lead to more doubt over the futures of Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap.

As Standard Sport reported last week, Chelsea are not actively looking to sell Pedro Neto.

All smiles: Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso addresses the media at a press conference in Sydney

AFP/Getty

However, with interest building and Neto wanting to play Champions League football, an exit could yet be on the cards for the Portuguese winger at the right price.

Were Chelsea to accelerate their interest in Bayer Leverkusen teenager Kerim Alajbegovic, Neto’s future would be cast further into doubt, and Alonso admits he expects more players to be sold before the transfer window closes on September 1.

“We need to know that probably there will still be some movements,” Alonso said in Australia on Monday, before Chelsea’s pre-season tour opener against Western Sydney Wanderers.

Alonso wouldn’t commit to saying how many players he would ideally want in his squad next season, but said the club had to have adequate competition and prepare for the potential impact of injuries.

“Not too long, not too short, what is the number? I can't give you that number,” he said. “But for sure, we need to have options because you know that we could be unlucky with injuries so we need to prepare for that.

“We can have different circumstances. We need to manage minutes. We have two cups as well, so we need to fight for them as hard as in the Premier League.

“Once we get the right balance in terms of qualities, personalities, maturity moments, hopefully we are looking at that when we start the first Premier League game in August.”