Chelsea submit bid to sign £45m star

After Liam Rosenior’s failed spell as Chelsea boss, it was pivotal that the hierarchy made a statement managerial appointment to get the supporters back on side.

Xabi Alonso’s arrival will no doubt have done just that, with the Spaniard a proven winner – as seen during his time at Bayer Leverkusen, as he won the double in 2023/24.

However, if he is to be a success at Stamford Bridge, the board will have to trust the 44-year-old with transfers and move away from their scattergun approach as seen in recent seasons.

It’s unclear how much he will have to spend, too, especially since the Blues spent over £1.7b in the last four years after BlueCo took the reins in West London.

Numerous players have already appeared on the club’s radar, with various positions within the senior ranks in desperate need of reinforcement ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Chelsea enter talks to sign £45m talent this summer

Over the last couple of days, Chelsea have been touted with a move for a plethora of potential additions – with big-money additions on the cards for Alonso’s men.

Lille star Ayyoub Bouaddi has been mentioned as one possible transfer target, after the Moroccan star produced a superb debut display against Brazil at the World Cup.

Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have also been credited with interest in the 18-year-old midfielder – who could cost as much as £70m this window.

He’s not the only player who’s appeared on their radar as of late, with Juventus left-back Andrea Cambiaso another who’s being considered by the recruitment.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Chelsea have reportedly made a swap offer to the Italian outfit for the 26-year-old, who made 36 league appearances in Serie A last season.

The article claims that Nicolas Jackson is the player included in the potential switch, but it’s unclear if the player himself would welcome a move to Italy this window.

Cambiaso himself is said to be open to a departure from the Old Lady ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, with his current employers said to be valuing him at around £45m.

Why Cambiaso would be the perfect Cucurella replacement for Chelsea

Five days ago, Chelsea supporters were shell-shocked at the discovery that full-back Marc Cucurella had completed a move to join Real Madrid ahead of 2026/27.

The 27-year-old’s move seemingly came out of nowhere, but the Blues green-lighted a £55m deal and sanctioned an immediate exit for the European champion.

However, the move will be a bitter blow to Alonso and his plans at Stamford Bridge, especially considering the full-back played 56 times across all competitions last season.

Cucurella’s tally of 2710 minutes played in the Premier League throughout the 2025/26 campaign, with only four players in the senior squad playing more during the same period.

Losing the Spaniard is undoubtedly a bitter blow, but the early sale and respectable transfer fee present the perfect opportunity for the recruitment team to work their magic.

A move for Cambiaso could see the Blues land the perfect replacement for Cucurella, with the Italian a player who’s been a key performer for the Serie A side in recent seasons.

His stats from the recent campaign demonstrate his quality at both ends of the pitch – even managing to outperform the Spaniard in various key areas in the process.

Cambiaso, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by analyst Liam Doerr, managed to complete more of the passes he attempted, whilst creating more chances per 90.

The aforementioned tallies rank him in the top 10% of all defenders across Europe – highlighting his phenomenal ability to create carnage with the ball at his feet.

The Italian star also managed to complete more crosses per 90 last campaign – highlighting his ability to put the end product to his superb chances in attacking areas.

However, without the ball, Cambiaso also managed to outperform the departed Blues star, subsequently making more tackles per 90 and achieving a better duel-won success.

The Italian’s tally of 5.4 ball recoveries per 90 also highlights his phenomenal ability to break up the opposition’s flow – subsequently ranking him in the top 8% of defenders in Europe.

A deal for Cambiaso would be an excellent piece of business for Chelsea this summer, but it’s unclear if their current swap proposal would be accepted by Juventus.

The £45m asking price could be a good price for a player of the Italian’s calibre – not to mention the fact he’s shown he can outperform Cucurella in various areas of his game.