Xabi Alonso is who Chelsea would like to lead the project, according to sources. Alonso is cautious but hasn’t said no yet. Chelsea have other options if they can’t convince him.

Sources are confident that the return of Moises Caicedo will significantly help Chelsea defensivley, but it is also noted that the midfielder will help with build up play. There is acknowldgement that the balance of the team is expected to improve with his return.

Great day at BBC Radio Surrey seeing all the production take place around Brighton’s crazy 3-0 victory over Arsenal! @BBCSurrey @BBCSussexSport

I was at the Gtech community stadium tonight to see another Chelsea collapse. I was not even angry. I have seen it all before. I am starting to wonder if some players are capable of being switched on for 90 minutes consistently. Is this something that can actually be fixed? Piece for Striver on my concerns with Alonso and the players 👇🏻 striver.football/the-game/xa…

No one at Chelsea is hiding from any accountability. At ownership level, Chelsea want to improve fan engagement and listen to supporters better. There has been a recent statement to the supporters outlining the future. There is no 'reset' with the ownership but instead an evolvement within the model. The future transfer windows are expected to see investment in young talent mixed in with greater experience and quality, like the 2026 summer window. The sporting leadership team will remain in place with roles for each director now more defined into certain areas than in the past. Chelsea's ownership group expected to be judged on results, not words, and everyone inside the club is fully behind this. The more successful Chelsea are, the more money that can be made and invested. The value of the club will raise with greater success. While the execution can be questioned over recent years, the ambition can not.

Clearlake take full control of Chelsea. Full Sale never likely as Clearlake are here to invest for the long term. No day to day leadership or operational changes. There will be hope for progression on the stadium front now. #CFC striver.football/the-game/ch…

Brentford, Bournemouth, Everton, Spurs, Liverpool, Man Utd, Sunderland and then Leeds. Blimey, the season starts now Xabi. #CFC

Brentford away under the lights next Friday will be an utter disaster if there are not structural fixes between now and then.

One half to go but the same red flags defensively again. One player to pick out in particular is Gusto, he is a net negative on the ball for Chelsea. So many poor passes and touches.

Saturday afternoon. Sunny day. Bit of attacking footy hopefully. Cant ask for more than that. #CFC

Pedro Neto signs until 2032. Not sure what to think about that one but in any case Chelsea working hard to reward players. Colwill, Estevao are two possibilities next. Gusto has been looking for a pay rise for over a year. Also understand Hato is a player Chelsea are impressed with and could reward.

Exclusive: Joao Pedro has won the Premier League POTM award for August. Joao had 4 G/A in the first month of the season. #CFC

Hull City denying any central space, forcing teams out wide. Good game to play 4-2-3-1 and hand Barco his first league start in the pivot in my opinion 🤷‍♂️

X is a very funny place at times. I say that Alonso shouldn’t have rotated so much and that I was worried with that lineup, I get hundreds of abusive messages saying “maybe you should coach the team then”. Chelsea are 1-0 down at half time. Alonso makes 4 subs. Alonso comes out at full time and takes responsibility for the lineup. It’s possible for people without coaching badges who have been watching Chelsea for years and years to know what’s right and wrong sometimes. 👍🏻

Pretty normal Wednesday evening…

Chelsea against Leeds under the lights. Expected a much stronger lineup from Xabi Alonso but a chance for some to impress.#CFC

It was surprising to hear Alonso say Paez is not in his plans. Even if he isn’t playing, surely being mentored by Henderson and Welbeck is more efficient than being with the CNG, who are young and also going through their own maturing stage? #CFC striver.football/the-game/xa…

Too many gaps in the system, too many silly, petulant fouls when the game needed calm heads and poor tracking from Reece James on Odegard cost Chelsea at the Emirates. #CFC striver.football/the-game/im…

Culture setters, proven signings, record sales, a ruthless goalkeeper change and a world class manager - Chelsea’s 2026 summer window was the best in years. Sources say the best is yet to come + funds in January to spend. #CFC striver.football/the-game/cl…

Understand Estevao is currently happy at Chelsea and reports in Brazil have been blown out of proportion slightly. He is a big part of Alonso’s plans for the future and Chelsea sources regard him as untouchable. Others however have said that Estevao was promised to be a cornerstone of Chelsea’s attack when the club pitched the project to him initially. He chose Chelsea over leading European clubs because he thought he would get a lot more game time. Other young players have been pitched similar at various points and ended up feeling like the pathway shown / promised wasn’t met. Estevao feels he is a better player centrally. #CFC

Just wanted to say a massive thanks to everyone that supported my reporting this summer, it really means a lot, especially in a world where there is so much hate and abuse towards journalists. Believe me, you have no idea how hard some of these guys work behind the scenes. I am hoping to have a long and successful career covering Chelsea but I realise the challenges, mostly mental, that come with the journey. Personally, I feel I had a strong window, with my report of Chelsea making Xabi Alonso their priority on the 8th may the standout. I remember on the 9th, the very next day, Kieran Gill from The Daily Mail started to hint at the same. Then it snowballed from there, and Chelsea ended up with Xabi Alonso several days later. I won’t go over them all but there was other scoops I was proud of as well, such as relaying information in May from a source that height and physicality was said to be a large factor in recruitment this summer (Lacroix, Palestra, Rogers etc). In fact, on Rogers, many in replies told me that he would be heading to Arsenal, and I maintained that Chelsea were in the background watching closely and the player had no flat out rejected the club! The rest was history. News is what I love, creating new relationships and contacts is what I love, and I will keep working throughout the coming season and beyond to try and deliver the best information possible. Sorry for the waffle, anyway, thanks 🙏