RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 4 sourcesMIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JULY 18: Jordan Henderson #14 of England applauds the fans after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Bronze Final between France and England at Miami Stadium on July 18, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
FIFA via Getty Images
Chelsea has been busy this summer. The Stamford Bridge club has broken its transfer record to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa with Marco Palestra also joining from Atalanta and Geovany Quenda coming in from Sporting CP. Chelsea has clearly altered its strategy ahead of the 2026/27 season.
This is reflected by the Blues’ interest in Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck, both of whom are reportedly close to joining the Stamford Bridge outfit. Henderson is 36 while Welbeck is 35. That Chelsea is even interested in such experienced players says a lot about how the strategy has changed over the summer.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 28: Xabi Alonso, Manager of Chelsea, reacts during the Sydney Super Cup match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Chelsea FC at Accor Stadium on July 28, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Xabi Alonso is remodelling the Chelsea team in his own image. The Spaniard is expected to recycle the approach and tactical set-up that worked so well for him as Bayer Leverkusen manager, hence the addition of a second number 10 in Rogers and a right wing back in Palestra. There is a plan in place.
Part of that plan is the addition of some much-needed experience and leadership. For a long time, Chelsea’s transfer strategy was to assemble a squad of some of the best young players in the world and develop them together. That, however, was a flawed concept, as last season’s lowly 10th place finish in the Premier League table proved.
This is where Henderson and Welbeck have something to offer. They could prove useful as squad figures, providing depth in central midfield and in the centre forward position, but Henderson and Welbeck are being targeted due to their experience at the top level. They will be mentors to some of the younger players in the squad.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MAY 02: Danny Welbeck of Brighton & Hove Albion in action during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion at St James' Park on May 02, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Getty Images
“I’m sure that from today to the last day of the transfer [window] there will be a lot of links, a lot of rumours, so to be commenting on all of them, it’s going to be a hard task,” said Alonso when asked about the links to Henderson and Welbeck. “But for sure, we need proper balance in terms of qualities, in terms of positions, in terms of balance. We want to have a complete squad and we want to make a good team.”
“Balance” is the key term. Chelsea’s squad has been poorly constructed over the last few years and Alonso has been hired to point the team in the right direction again. He could use some experience in his dressing room and Henderson and Welbeck might fit the bill despite the peculiar nature of their transfers.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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