New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has his sights set on a familiar face from his time at Real Madrid. Reports indicate that the Spanish manager is keen on bringing Turkish midfielder Arda Guler to Stamford Bridge when he officially takes over on July 1.
Alonso, who signed a four-year deal with the Blues, is expected to have a strong hand in shaping the squad. According to SPORTBible, he has been in regular contact with Guler and hopes to lure him to London. The 20-year-old was a key figure under Alonso at Madrid, featuring in 25 matches this season after just 24 appearances across the previous two campaigns.
In a recent interview with TRT Spor, Guler spoke highly of Alonso: “We had a brilliant relationship. I felt as though he’d handed me the keys. It was exactly what I was looking for. Now he’s signed for Chelsea. I hope everything goes well for him. Of course, we’re still messaging each other.”
Guler is valued at around €90 million, but Chelsea may need to pay over €100 million to prise him away from Madrid, as he is under contract until 2029. The move would represent a significant investment for the new era at Stamford Bridge.