Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former Chelsea and France defender Frank Leboeuf has delivered his verdict on the new era at Stamford Bridge under Xabi Alonso and the key transfer decisions that will define it.
Leboeuf has backed Mike Maignan as the ideal goalkeeper signing, urged Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali to give Alonso full control, and made clear he would not lose any sleep over Enzo Fernandez leaving the club.
The former World Cup winner has also assessed the situations of Cole Palmer , Marc Cucurella , and Mike Penders , backed Eduardo Camavinga as a replacement for Fernandez , and explained why Maxence Lacroix deserves to be playing at a higher level.
Xabi Alonso Era
Alonso at Chelsea: What Now?
It was widely assumed that Xabi Alonso would take over at Liverpool , especially as Arne Slot 's position appeared uncertain. While there was media speculation, it seems Liverpool never had a concrete plan to appoint Alonso , which paved the way for his move to Chelsea .
I believe he would have jumped at the opportunity to return to Liverpool , but from what I've heard, it was never a serious consideration for their board. This is great news for Chelsea . I saw Alonso play, and he was exceptionally intelligent. We saw his capabilities at Bayer Leverkusen , where he had full control and achieved incredible things in the Bundesliga .
However, as we all know, a manager will fail if they don't have total control, which is what happened to him at Real Madrid . It was impossible for him to manage that dressing room when he didn't have a say in team selection or recruitment. I am very happy that he has been named manager at Chelsea , but I urge Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali to grant him total control.
That is the only path to success. It will likely require a shift in their current transfer strategy, as Alonso will prioritise experienced players alongside the youth. You cannot win with young players alone; you need balance. Reece James and Moises Caicedo are key, and Enzo Fernandez may well leave; you need more experience to get Chelsea back to their best. Xabi Alonso is a great start, but there is still work to do.
Maignan to Chelsea?
Mike Maignan to Chelsea ? Definitely. I have a lot of respect for Robert Sanchez ; he is good on his line, but every time he has the ball at his feet, it feels like a nervous moment for the team and the fans. Maignan would bring something different, more leadership and more respect from the defenders. As a former centre-back, I know how important that is. When I had Fabien Barthez behind me, I felt comfortable because I knew he would make the right decision 90% of the time, so I felt free to try anything.
At the moment, I think Chelsea 's centre-backs seem shaky because they don't have full confidence in the goalkeeper behind them. It would be great if Chelsea could sign Maignan . I am also very happy that Levi Colwill is back, as he is a great defender and belongs in that centre-back role because the others are a bit too soft for me.
Is Penders Ready to Be Chelsea's Number One?
Mike Penders is a great goalkeeper, but that's a different task. We've seen many players move from Strasbourg to Chelsea , and it's a huge step. Strasbourg is a fantastic club; I played there for five and a half years, and I'm very proud of both teams, but Chelsea is a different animal. There is immense pressure at Chelsea . You don't have the time to wait or settle in; you have to be ready from the first game to reassure the fans, the board, and the media that you deserve to be there. Most players need a little time, perhaps six months, to overcome their shyness and adjust.
I remember Fabien Barthez moving from Toulouse to Marseille and feeling comfortable straight away, but that's a mentality thing. When I came to Chelsea , it felt like home immediately. Some players, like Matheus Cunha at Manchester United or Erling Haaland at Manchester City , adapt instantly, while others like Moises Caicedo took some time. At Chelsea , however, you have to be very good, very quickly. I would rather sign Mike Maignan right now and let Penders continue to develop at Strasbourg for a few more years so he's ready for Chelsea later.
Transfers
Let Fernandez Leave?
Enzo Fernandez , let him go. If he doesn't want to stay, there is no way you can force him. We saw it last season with players threatening to go on strike; it's insane. You sign a four-year contract, but after two years you want to leave. You can't force someone to perform if their head isn't in it; if they're pretending to be injured or looking for an exit, they won't serve the club well.
It doesn't bother me; let him go. I'm not a fan of Enzo Fernandez , especially after what he did to the French players after the World Cup . If he wants to go, let him. He won't be missed by me. I would have regretted Moises Caicedo leaving, but if Fernandez wants to go, let him.
Who Replaces Fernandez?
I think Eduardo Camavinga would be fantastic at Chelsea ; what he did for Real Madrid was absolutely exceptional because at the time that he came, you had Casemiro , you had Toni Kroos , and it was hard to play.
Camavinga did very well and won so many titles that he has the experience, and he's a great young guy working hard. Camavinga and Moises Caicedo would be a fantastic pairing. Let's see how it works. Aurelien Tchouameni would also be an option for me; one of those two at Chelsea would be very interesting under Xabi Alonso .
Cucurella Future at Chelsea?
Marc Cucurella has been crucial to Chelsea over the past two or three years. Initially, I was very concerned when we signed him for £60 million; it seemed insane, and I wondered what was going on at Chelsea . He wasn't the player I expected to see; it was similar to his time at Bournemouth . But after that, he showed how important he is to the squad; he brought the spirit and aggressiveness that are a real symbol of Chelsea right now.
While his performance in the last six months hasn't been his best, like many Chelsea players, you can rely on Cucurella . Now, the question is what his mindset will be. Does he want to leave? He's Spanish , and you can understand why he might want to return to Spain eventually. He has served England very well. If he does leave, there would be no resentment because he served the club. But I hope he stays, because I believe Xabi Alonso would love to use players like him, along with Malo Gusto on the other side, or Reece James ; that could be very interesting.
Cole Palmer
Can Alonso Revive Cole Palmer?
Xabi Alonso has to know how to use Cole Palmer , but it's up to Cole Palmer to wake up and improve. Can you imagine that he isn't even in the national team? And rightfully so, because what he's done over the past year and a half isn't the Cole Palmer we know. It's sad for him because missing a World Cup is huge, but he is capable of regaining his form. Initially, we saw issues with his positioning; coaches at Chelsea kept moving him between the right side and the number ten role, but it didn't click with his teammates, and he got injured on top of that.
Cole Palmer will be a priority for Xabi Alonso , provided his mindset is in the right place. We need Cole Palmer . He's a great player, and I don't want him to leave; I want him to stay and return to the Cole Palmer we all used to know.
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