Absolute Chelsea

The Xabi Alonso x @ChelseaFC era is officially underway. Time to get to work! 🤝🔵

Gabriel Slonina is currently training with RC Strasbourg, who need a goalkeeper after Mike Penders’ return to #Chelsea. A move is not guaranteed, but an option being explored. [via @NizaarKinsella]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Harry Kane: ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ 🇦🇷 Lionel Messi: ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ 🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappe: ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ 🇪🇸 Mikel Oyarzabal: ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ All four players have been in fine form at the World Cup. If you could only pick one in attack, who would it be? 🌟

Atalanta sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli on Marco Palestra joining #Chelsea: “Everyone was aware of everything, he went to a great club and will represent Italy. We were super fair with all parties.” [via @DiMarzio]

The players took part in a bleep test on Monday, won by Reggie Walsh. Cole Palmer finished second, Estevao Willian was third. [via @NizaarKinsella]

#Chelsea have organised behind-closed-doors friendlies against Crawley Town on Saturday and Bromley next Thursday, before they fly for their overseas pre-season tour next Friday. [via @NizaarKinsella] bbc.co.uk/sport/football…

Xabi Alonso on Enzo Fernandez: "Enzo's a great player and we are looking forward to having him and start working together." [via @SkySports]

Xabi Alonso on Reece James: "He can do everything. He can attack from inside or outside. He can deliver, he's good at set-pieces, he has blue DNA, which is very important, and we transmit that to the whole team and new players. He's going to be the captain." [via @SkySports]

Reece James is to remain #Chelsea’s captain under Xabi Alonso. [via @kierangill_DM]

Xabi Alonso on Granit Xhaka links: "Regarding players that are not in the building and rumours, I know you love them, but it's not right for me to comment on those things." [via @Independent]

Xabi Alonso: 'I'm not going to say what will happen in May. For me, it's absolutely too early to say that, but I'm confident, I'm optimistic to think that we can have a great season." [via @Independent]

Xabi Alonso: "Time will tell. What I'm sure is that we have the ambition to win a lot of games, to be competitive. We need to take important decisions. We need to build strong principles and strong mentality and culture in the club. And time will tell..." [via @Independent]

Xabi Alonso: "We want that, for sure, in the future [Premier League titles]. Time will tell if we deserve them, but this is the goal of the club. This has to be the ambition of everyone. We need to take the right steps. We need to build the right squad, to have the right mentality." [via @kierangill_DM]

Xabi Alonso: "If we get the right balance and decisions, we can have a good season. I'm optimistic and really believe it. I don't think that we need to change everything..." [via @kierangill_DM]

Xabi Alonso: "I can’t assess the things from the past because I was not here so it'd be unfair. But what we want is a team with the right mentality, the right hunger, the right standards and on a daily basis to build on them..." [via @kierangill_DM] dailymail.com/sport/football…

AS Roma presented an offer to #Chelsea for Alejandro Garnacho - a loan fee of €5M with an option to buy of €35M, which could turn into an obligation if certain conditions occur. [via @DiMarzio]

Xabi at Stamford Bridge. 🏡

#Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Harrison Bettoni, 18, from Wigan on a free transfer with compensation. [via @FabrizioRomano]

Xabi Alonso: "[Nicolas Jackson] is joining our tour in Asia. Looking forward to working with him in that time."

Xabi Alonso on Alejandro Garnacho: "The situation is that we have spoken with the sporting directors. There is interest in him from other clubs. Hopefully it finishes in the best possible way for everyone."