Xabi Alonso is making his first transfer demands clear at Chelsea before he officially starts work on July 1, with ESPN reporting the incoming manager has pushed the club to explore a deal for Bayer Leverkusen captain Granit Xhaka. The two worked closely together during Alonso's successful spell in the Bundesliga and the 33-year-old is seen as an experienced, technically astute midfielder capable of imposing structure and leadership on a Chelsea squad filled with exciting but raw young talent.
Chelsea are still finalising their managerial transition and have not yet submitted a formal offer to Leverkusen. Xhaka is under contract at the BayArena and his valuation is not expected to be low given the role he played in Leverkusen's recent success. However, the Alonso connection is a decisive factor and could prove critical in convincing the player to make the move to Stamford Bridge ahead of a new era under his former colleague.