Chelsea have announced the appointment of Xabi Alonso as their new manager, with the Spaniard potentially working with a new first-choice goalkeeper at Stamford Bridge next season.
Robin Roofs has emerged as a Chelsea target (Image: James Gill/Danehouse)
Chelsea are prepared to spend big on a goalkeeper this summer in preparation for Xabi Alonso’s first season in charge, with Robin Roofs understood to be a serious target.
The Blues announced on Sunday that Alonso will be appointed as their new manager from July 1. Alonso, 44, will take over a team that has failed to live up to expectations this season, but after Saturday afternoon’s defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup final, Chelsea’s chances of playing in European football next season are now slim to none.
Landing Alonso is widely seen as a major coup for Chelsea, who are struggling in the Premier League, with Chelsea likely to back a new manager this summer.
Signing a new goalkeeper appears to be a priority, with Rufus, valued at £50m, said to be attracting interest from both Chelsea and Liverpool.
read more: Chelsea announce surprise appointment of former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, signing big contract
The Sun claims both clubs are interested in Roofs, who was a big part of Sunderland’s first Premier League campaign amid uncertainty over their first-choice goalkeeper.
From a Liverpool perspective in relation to speculation regarding the future of Alisson, who continues to be linked with Juventus. However, intense scrutiny has begun over Chelsea’s goalkeeping options ahead of the 2025-26 season, with Robert Sanchez, who joined from Brighton, not entirely convinced by the number one role.
Robert Sanchez has come under intense scrutiny during his time at Chelsea (Image: Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Roofs kept 10 clean sheets for a Sunderland side that greatly defied pre-season expectations. As such, the 23-year-old is now valued at more than five times the £9m he signed for last summer.
Chelsea may miss out on Europe altogether next season, but the move to sign Alonso has been generally well-received. The Spaniard has been courted by all of Europe’s elite in less than 12 months and his stock remains high despite being sacked just seven months after signing a three-year deal with Real Madrid amid dressing room turmoil.
New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso could work with a new No. 1 goalkeeper next season (Image: Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)
Alonso expressed high ambitions in his first words after taking up his new role, insisting his goal was to build a team that could compete for the game’s top prizes.
“From my conversations with the ownership group and sports leaders, it’s clear that we share the same aspirations,” he said. “We always want to build a team that can compete at the highest level and fight for trophies.”
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