Gary Neville has outlined the key positions Xabi Alonso must address at Chelsea ahead of the summer transfer window, as the club prepares for another managerial reset.
Alonso has agreed a four-year contract to take charge at Stamford Bridge, with his tenure set to begin on July 1.
He replaces Liam Rosenior, who lasted 106 days in the role after taking over following the dismissal of Enzo Maresca in January.
Chelsea head into the final stretch of the season under pressure, having lost the FA Cup final to Manchester City on Saturday.
Their Premier League campaign has also stalled, with the club sitting 10th in the table and facing an uphill battle to reach European competition.
A late win over Liverpool ended a six-match losing run, but only two games remain, leaving little margin for improvement in the league standings.
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Despite the instability, Alonso’s arrival has been framed as a reset for the club, with expectations high due to his success at Bayer Leverkusen and his reputation as a former elite midfielder.
His short spell at Real Madrid has also been closely examined, though it has been suggested that the situation there was not solely down to him.
Neville, speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast on Sky Sports, said Chelsea’s recruitment strategy must change if Alonso is to succeed. He argued that the current focus on young signings has left the squad without enough experience.
He stated on the Gary Neville Podcast on Sky Sports, “Chelsea possesses a significant level of inexperience across all departments. They are inexperienced on the field, and a change in their model is necessary.
“This approach of exclusively signing young players on substantial contracts… while no one is opposed to acquiring young talent, limiting themselves to only young players is a considerable error.”
Neville believes the squad has enough quality in midfield but lacks balance in key areas. He pointed specifically to the need for an experienced striker, a goalkeeper, and defensive reinforcements at centre-back.
“The first action I anticipate Xabi Alonso will take is to seek a new goalkeeper, a centre-back, and an experienced centre-forward.
“They have some seasoned players in central midfield, including Caicedo, Fernandez, and Lavia, which allows them to maintain a solid core.
“Additionally, they have a mix of dynamic wingers, but they are in need of a top-tier centre-forward. Joao Pedro is quite impressive, and I have a favourable opinion of him, while Liam Delap is still young.
“Nonetheless, they require a centre-forward who possesses both strength and class, as well as one or two centre-backs, and it is imperative that they acquire a new goalkeeper.”
Chelsea return to Premier League action against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday, knowing victory would move them above Brentford into eighth place and keep alive hopes of European qualification going into the final day.
