XABI ALONSO wants to sell at least FIVE centre-backs before the transfer window closes.
The £52million arrival of Maxence Lacroix means Chelsea currently have TEN central defenders on their books.
Chelsea have 10 centre-backs and Xabi Alonso wants to cut it down by half Credit: Getty
The Blues are preparing for a few weeks of frantic sales across the squad Credit: Getty
With no European football to fill the calendar, Alonso wants to trim the squad and a number are due to leave.
Academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah is a £35million target for Italian side Como, managed by former Blues midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
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Axel Disasi, who spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham, has interest in Italy while Frenchman Benoit Badiashile is expected to leave permanently after telling the club he wants to play.
Josh Acheampong, another academy graduate, has Premier League interest but Chelsea are determined to keep him at the club.
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The futures of Mamadou Sarr, Aaron Anselmino and Tosin Adarabioyo are also up in the air.
Asked how many central defenders he wants once the window is closed, Alonso confirmed: “Four or five. Is that accurate enough?”
Further sales elsewhere are expected. Once Danny Welbeck has arrived, Chelsea will have six strikers in the squad, a number they wish to cut by half.
A number of Premier League clubs are thought to have expressed an interest in Liam Delap, while Aston Villa have spoken to Chelsea about a deal for Nicolas Jackson. Marc Guiu is also likely to depart.
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Jackson, a Senegal international, has joined Chelsea in Sydney alongside Moises Caicedo while Welbeck is due to join them in Hong Kong next week.
Caicedo’s arrival means it is the first chance Alonso has had to work with the Ecuador international and he was gushing in his praise of the Ecuador international.
He said: “When I saw him yesterday I saw I’ve been missing my midfielders because I really admire him.
“From outside you see his quality, his heart, his mentality.
“I know the Ecuadorian players, they are different and I had heard a lot, I spoke with him on the phone but it was first contact and he’s a top, top player, for me one of the best holding midfielders in the world, no doubt.
“Now he’s here, now it’s time to start working and to help him get improving and getting better.”
