According to a report by Football London on Sunday, 26 July 2026, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso still requires further investment to complete his ideal defensive setup despite making progress with the expected arrival of Maxence Lacroix.
The Blues have enjoyed a busy summer transfer window, with the club already strengthening several areas of the squad. However, Alonso believes there is still work to be done at the back as he prepares Chelsea for the new season and looks to build a defence capable of competing for major honours.
Chelsea began their summer business by signing Marco Palestra from Atalanta for around £47 million. The highly-rated right-back arrived after an impressive campaign in Serie A and became one of the first additions of the Alonso era.
The club then made a statement signing by completing a £117 million deal for Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, beating competition from Arsenal to secure the England international. The attacking midfielder became the most expensive British player in football history.
The expected arrival of Maxence Lacroix will further strengthen Alonso’s defensive options, with the French centre-back set to become another key addition. However, Chelsea’s defensive rebuild is not expected to stop there, with the manager still looking for reinforcements.
One of Chelsea’s biggest priorities is finding a replacement for Marc Cucurella, who left Stamford Bridge to join Real Madrid earlier in the summer. While Jorrel Hato can operate at left-back, he is primarily a centre-back, meaning Alonso could prefer a more natural option for his system.
Chelsea have reportedly explored a move for Rayo Vallecano defender Pep Chavarria. The Blues opened talks with the Spanish club over a potential deal for the 28-year-old, who still has several years remaining on his contract.
However, completing that move could depend on Chelsea generating additional funds through player sales. The club are expected to continue trimming the squad, with several defenders potentially leaving as Alonso shapes his preferred team.
Players such as Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi have all been linked with possible exits, and moving some of them on could provide Chelsea with more financial flexibility in the transfer market.
With Lacroix and Levi Colwill expected to form a strong partnership at centre-back, Alonso will have more options when deciding between a back three or a back four. The Spaniard successfully used both systems during his time at Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid.
