Xabi Alonso speaks out on selling three Chelsea stars including Joao Pedro

Xabi Alonso was unable to rule out the possibility of Chelsea cashing in on Joao Pedro, Enzo Fernandez or Marc Cucurella when cornered by the Spanish press this week, simply reassuring fans he would ‘make a good team’.

Chelsea put an end to weeks of speculation on Sunday as it was confirmed that Alonso had been chosen to succeed Liam Rosenior, with the ex-Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder putting pen to paper on a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge.

The 44-year-old has been out of a job since his dismissal at the Bernabeu in the new year and will officially take over from Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane on July 1.

After a desperately underwhelming season for the Blues, Alonso will be under no illusions about the size of the task that awaits him in west London.

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The Club World Cup holders’ Champions League qualification hopes have gone up in smoke after a miserable end to the campaign, with the side languishing down in eighth ahead of their final contest at Sunderland on Sunday.

There was further disappointment for supporters last weekend as Reece James and Co fell to a limp 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in this year’s FA Cup final at Wembley.

Off the pitch, meanwhile, there is a growing sense of uncertainty surrounding the futures of several integral squad members in the lead-up to the summer transfer window, with Fernandez and Cucurella both airing their frustrations – and seemingly agitating for moves – in recent weeks.

Chelsea’s top goalscorer, Pedro, is another player who has become the subject of intense speculation, with the Brazilian reportedly welcoming strong interest from La Liga champions Barcelona.

The topic was put to Alonso as he was ambushed in the street by El Chiringuito TV’s Marcos Benito on Wednesday, a month-and-a-half out from his opening day in the job at Chelsea.

Alonso was then directly asked about the incessant rumours surrounding Pedro, Fernandez and Cucurella, which he met with an intriguing response.

However, the Spaniard was quick to shut down any questions about his tumultuous reign in charge of Real Madrid, keen instead to focus on the future.

With Chelsea missing out on Champions League qualification, there is a real fear amongst the fanbase – and former players – that the club will be forced to sell top talent to make up for the lack of funds.

‘I think they’re going to have to sell,’ ex-Chelsea and England winger Joe Cole said on the latest episode of The Dressing Room Podcast.

‘Everything would have been set up in this five-year plan and year four, you’ve got to expect that they’ll be in the Champions League. So you’d say that there has to be some buying and selling.

‘The noise coming out of BlueCo is that they will tweak it around. For me, that means you’re going to have to sell one of Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, maybe Joao Pedro, Moises Caicedo.’

On Pedro, Cole went on: ‘Barcelona were apparently at the game [FA Cup final] watching him.

‘I’m going to throw it out there, he’s the best number nine I’ve seen at Chelsea since Diego Costa.’

According to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Chelsea ‘will not make it easy’ for Barcelona to sign Pedro – but could be prepared to agree a deal should they receive an offer in the region of €100m (£87m).

It’s claimed Barca first approached Pedro last month, but the Brazil international was focused on the end of Chelsea season and securing his place in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the World Cup – which did not come to pass.

Pedro’s current contract at Stamford Bridge is not due to expire until June 2033.

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