Paul Scholes expects Xabi Alonso to replace ‘liability’ goalkeeper Robert Sanchez when he takes over at Chelsea.
Alonso is preparing to take charge at Stamford Bridge after being appointed as Chelsea’s new manager on a four-year contract.
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder emerged as Chelsea’s top managerial target after Liam Rosenior’s sacking last month.
Alonso is set to take over a Chelsea side that finished just tenth in the Premier League this season, as close to the relegation zone than the top-four places in terms of points.
The countdown is on
Our seven-day guide to the World Cup is live. 48 teams, 104 games, 1104 players – we’ve got everything you need to know. Sign up now.
Gary Neville has warned Alonso that he has ‘one hell of a job on his hands’ at Stamford Bridge and Scholes believes one of his first priorities must be to sign a new goalkeeper.
Current No. 1 Sanchez endured another mixed season in-between the posts at Chelsea and at times found himself out of the team.
Scholes’ former Manchester United teammate Nicky Butt labelled Sanchez a ‘liability’ and says he will be an immediate ‘problem’ for incoming boss Alonso.
‘I think the goalkeeper is a problem there at Chelsea, he’s a liability,’ Butt said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast. ‘He can’t play the way they will want to play.’
Responding to Butt’s comments, Scholes said: ‘With the way Chelsea will play, I agree. He can’t do it.
‘I’m pretty sure Xabi Alonso will want to play that way, to build out from the back, so he will need a new goalkeeper then.’
Alonso will begin his role at Chelsea on July 1 having chosen the Blues as his first job since he left Real Madrid in January after just seven months in charge.
Before that disappointing spell Alonso made a huge impact at Bayer Leverkusen, leading the German club to their first ever Bundesliga title.
Discussing his move to west London, Alonso said: ‘Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club.
‘From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.
‘There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honour to lead it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies.’
Chelsea began the season under Club World Cup-winning boss Enzo Maresca but he departed in January following a dip in form a fall-out with the board.
The Italian, who is expected to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, was succeeded by Liam Rosenior but he only lasted 106 days in the job before being sacked.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.