Cucurella wanted in Spain, and the Premier League
Marc Cucurella has serious interest this summer. Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are "best-placed" to land him (2), and a second Premier League club has now joined the chase (5). With Xabi Alonso arriving July 1 and the squad set for a reshape, your left-back could be one of the first out the door. No bid yet, but the noise is building.
Cole Palmer staying put, says Neville
Gary Neville doesn't see Cole Palmer heading to Old Trafford. The Sky Sports pundit weighed in on the rumours linking your star midfielder to Manchester United and flatly dismissed the idea (4). Palmer remains the closest thing Chelsea have to a world-class guarantee, and that's exactly the kind of player Alonso will want to build around.
Vlahovic: a free agent fix for the mentality problem?
Dusan Vlahovic is being linked with a free transfer from Juventus this summer (3). The 26-year-old brings a combative edge Chelsea have been accused of lacking, and with Champions League football missed in three of the last four seasons, a mentality shift is overdue. No fee, proven goalscorer, it's the profile BlueCo's recruitment team likes.
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Alonso wants winners, not passengers
Xabi Alonso told Bayer Leverkusen scouts exactly what he looks for in a player (6), and Chelsea are already matching that blueprint. Club sources confirm the summer targets share one overriding characteristic Alonso demands (8). Fabrizio Romano adds the club is working on three or four targets and wants at least two starting-level players (7). A centre-back and a versatile attacker top the list, though the World Cup may delay some deals.
Estevao opens up on post-injury weight gain
Estevao has revealed he gained five kilos during his injury layoff, speaking candidly to ESPN (1). The Brazilian teenager says he's working to shed the extra weight as he targets a full pre-season under Alonso. A small update, but one worth tracking, your summer rebuild depends on players like him hitting the ground running.
Fan reactions
The Athletic's report that a centre-back and versatile attacker are the priority has fans nodding along, most agree the spine still needs surgery. The Emegha doubt, though, split opinion. Elsewhere, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro popping up in Madonna's new video at Stamford Bridge gave everyone a laugh. Join the discussion
