Chelsea will be hoping they get the version of Xabi Alonso that won the treble at Bayer Leverkusen, and are reportedly looking at reuniting him with Alejandro Grimaldo.
There was an element of surprise when Chelsea were able to convince Alonso to take over, especially after it was clear the job at Liverpool was set to become available.
It is a testament to how good Alonso is that his stock has not dropped despite being sacked by Real Madrid after less than a season in charge.
Chelsea have high hopes for Josh Acheampong under Xabi Alonso…
Where does Acheampong fit in with Chelsea’s plans for 2026/27?
Chelsea interested in reuniting Xabi Alonso with Alejandro Grimaldo
His stocks are very high from his time in charge of Leverkusen, where he dethroned Bayern Munich and made the most out of the players he had available.
His side frequently lined up in a back three, with Alejandro Grimaldo tasked with playing the left-sided wing-back role.
According to TeamTALK, Chelsea are considering a move for the Spaniard in this transfer window as they face a potential key exit in the left-back position.
Marc Cucurella is the current number one option, however he is pushing for a move away from the Blues after their failure to qualify for the Champions League.
Atletico Madrid are amongst the top contenders to sign Cucurella, and he will be fighting for a place in the Spain XI with Grimaldo.
Who would you sign to replace Marc Cucurella? 🫵
Andrea Cambiaso is the latest player to be linked.
Grimaldo signing would be a serious sign of change at Chelsea
BlueCo have made it clear up to now that they are not interested in having experienced players in the squad, and prefer to bring in younger, promising players.
However, there is a reported acceptance at the club that they need to address this and have figures in the dressing room for tough moments.
At 30 years of age, Grimaldo would certainly represent that shift, and bring in a player who has seen it all in European football.
Despite the immense talent of Jorrel Hato, Chelsea need another option to compete for the role, and it remains to be seen if they take their interest in Grimaldo any further.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
