Chelsea head into the 2026/27 Premier League season under new management and carrying significant uncertainty over one of their most expensive assets. Xabi Alonso has taken the reins at Stamford Bridge, arriving with a squad reshuffled by big spending and a transfer window that produced some unexpected names alongside headline signings.
Sky Sports analysis, reported by James Savundra and David Richardson, breaks down the key issues surrounding the club as the new campaign gets under way.
Fernandez Future Still Unresolved
The Enzo Fernandez situation has been the defining subplot of Chelsea’s summer. According to the BBC, Chelsea set a Friday deadline of 5pm BST for bids of £120m or more, with Manchester City the only known interested party after Real Madrid publicly ruled out a move. City did not submit an offer before that deadline passed. Nobody did.
Savundra noted that when he spoke with Alonso early in pre-season, the new manager was effusive about players such as Reece James and Cole Palmer, but guarded when Fernandez’s name came up. Alonso confirmed he was looking forward to working with the Argentine but said little else, leaving the impression the situation was far from settled.
Savundra reported that Fernandez, who has six years remaining on his contract, is understood to want a higher base salary rather than a deal heavily weighted toward performance incentives. Chelsea sources told Sky Sports they expected him to remain for at least the rest of the season after the deadline passed, though that fell short of a firm guarantee. If he does stay, he is expected to be central to Alonso’s plans.
Chelsea set the £120m price tag having signed Fernandez from Benfica for £107m in 2023. He contributed 15 goals and seven assists across 54 appearances last season before helping Argentina reach the World Cup final, where he was sent off as they lost 1-0 to Spain.
Alonso’s Tactical Shape Takes Form
David Richardson highlighted for Sky Sports that Alonso’s formation choices during pre-season told a clear story. Chelsea used a back four in their opening three friendlies, echoing Alonso’s brief stint at Real Madrid. In the final three pre-season matches, with more senior players available, he switched to a back three, mirroring the 3-4-3 system that brought him such success at Bayer Leverkusen.
The back-three setup has not been without problems. Against Real Sociedad, Chelsea sat too deep in the first half, with wingbacks Marco Palestra and Pedro Neto unable to push forward effectively. The team struggled to press and became loose in possession, even with £117m signing Morgan Rogers finding the net early. Old habits die hard.
Rogers, Henderson and a Transfer Policy Shift
Rogers arrived for £117m and is expected to form a partnership with Cole Palmer at the heart of Alonso’s attack. Beyond that marquee deal, Chelsea also brought in Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck — a pairing that surprised many given the club’s recent focus on younger talent. Those signings signal a deliberate change in how Chelsea are approaching squad construction, adding experience alongside youth.
Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League last season and lost the FA Cup final to Manchester City. The pressure on Alonso is considerable. It starts from the first whistle.
