Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso is confident that Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer can play together in the same league, despite their high price tags. The pair are set to join the club's pre-season tour in Sydney, with Rogers already signing a six-year contract worth an option for a further year.
Chelsea's Big Money Signings
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says he has a “plan” to play club record £117m signing Morgan Rogers alongside Cole Palmer – and believes the England international will make an “instant impact”. The 24-year-old midfielder became the most expensive British player of all-time when he moved from Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge last week.
Rogers is on holiday after playing for England at the World Cup, while Chelsea have begun their pre-season tour in Sydney. Alonso said, “In that position we needed an important player and I’m sure there were not many better options than Morgan Rogers.” He believes Rogers will adapt quickly to the club, the system, and his team-mates.
Alonso's Vision for the Squad
Alonso insisted he will be ready for the new season, despite not yet taking part in pre-season training. He believes that Rogers and Palmer will be compatible, citing their close friendship. Rogers and Palmer have described each other as being among their “best friends in football”, with Rogers saying they would love to play together.
The pair will be part of Chelsea's squad, which is set to be balanced with the right mix of quality and mentality. Alonso said, “We want a squad with the right balance between quality and mentality. Those things need to match in terms of maturity, but I think we are starting the new season with good energy. That’s important.”
Transfer Window Movement
Chelsea are also expected to announce the £52m signing of France international defender Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace. The 26-year-old would be Chelsea's oldest signing since 2022. The club has also brought in winger Geovany Quenda from Sporting, striker Emmanuel Emegha from Strasbourg, and full-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta.
That will leave Chelsea with nearly 40 players in their squad and needing to sell a substantial number of them. Alonso said, “We need to know that there will probably still be some movement. We need to be flexible and quick to act. The main thing is that we have a clear idea, a clear plan that we have built. It will probably change before the transfer window closes.”
The transfer window is expected to be busy for Chelsea, with Alonso indicating that there will be further movement. The club will need to balance their squad and make some tough decisions about which players to keep and which to sell. As Alonso said, “We need to be flexible and quick to act.”
Source: Joy Online
