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  "path": "/2026/05/28/xabi-alonso-told-immediately-replace-25m-chelsea-star-he-will-let-down-28552491/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-28T16:20:04.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Chelsea FC",
    "Chelsea transfer news",
    "Premier League",
    "Robert Sanchez",
    "Transfer News and Rumours",
    "Xabi Alonso",
    "Chelsea",
    "appointed as the club’s new manager on a four-year contract",
    "Liverpool",
    "Real Madrid",
    "Liam Rosenior",
    "sacked last month after just 106 days in the job",
    "Sign up now",
    "Enzo Fernandez",
    "placed a huge £120m price-tag on the Argentine’s head",
    "BetVictor",
    "advised Alonso to replace Sanchez when he arrives at Chelsea",
    "The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast",
    "check our sport page",
    "Facebook",
    "Twitter",
    "Instagram",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
  ],
  "textContent": "Incoming Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso (Picture: Getty)\n\nXabi Alonso has been told to make an immediate change to Chelsea’s first-team squad when he arrives at Stamford Bridge.\n\nAlonso is taking charge of Chelsea in July after being appointed as the club’s new manager on a four-year contract.\n\nThe former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder replaces Liam Rosenior, who was sacked last month after just 106 days in the job.\n\nAlonso takes over a Chelsea team that slumped to a tenth-place finish in the Premier League this season, failing to qualify for any European competition.\n\n##  The countdown is on\n\nOur seven-day guide to the World Cup is live. 48 teams, 104 games, 1104 players – we've got everything you need to know. Sign up now.\n\nThe ex-Spain star will hope to bolster his squad during this summer’s transfer window, but outgoings will also be on the agenda as he aims to take Chelsea back to the top.\n\nChelsea are aware Enzo Fernandez wants to leave and have placed a huge £120m price-tag on the Argentine’s head.\n\nMarc Cucurella, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer have all also been linked with moves away from Stamford Bridge, while Andy Townsend has advised Alonso to bring in a new goalkeeper.\n\nSeveral Chelsea players are being linked with moves (Picture: Getty)\n\nRobert Sanchez is currently the No. 1 at Chelsea but could be replaced after another mixed season in west London.\n\n‘I think Chelsea need a goalkeeper,’ Townsend, who spent three years at Stamford Bridge as a player, told BetVictor.\n\n‘Robert Sanchez has produced one or two better performances recently, but I just feel he’s just one of those goalkeepers that will let you down in a big moment. He’s got a mistake in him, there’s a mistake never too far away.\n\nCurrent Chelsea No. 1 Robert Sanchez (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘Those sort of goalkeepers, I’m afraid, with modern day football, the way that goalies are asked to play, I think you’ve got to sort it out if your goalkeeper gives you the jitters. And he does that, I’m afraid.’\n\nManchester United legends Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have also advised Alonso to replace Sanchez when he arrives at Chelsea.\n\n‘I think the goalkeeper is a problem there at Chelsea, he’s a liability,’ Butt said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast. ‘He can’t play the way they will want to play.’\n\nFormer Chelsea midfielder Andy Townsend (Picture: Getty)\n\nScholes added: ‘With the way Chelsea will play, I agree. He can’t do it.\n\n‘I’m pretty sure Xabi Alonso will want to play that way, to build out from the back, so he will need a new goalkeeper then.’\n\nChelsea is Alonso’s third senior managerial role following a disappointing stint at Real Madrid and a brilliant spell at Bayer Leverkusen.\n\nFollowing his appointment, Alonso said: ‘Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club.\n\n‘From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.\n\n‘There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honour to lead it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies.’\n\nAlonso spent five years in the Premier League as a player, helping Liverpool win the Champions League in 2005.\n\n**For more stories like this, check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Xabi Alonso told to immediately replace £25m Chelsea star: ‘He will let you down’"
}