Chelsea have confirmed Xabi Alonso as their new manager, and the Spaniard could find himself working with a new first-choice goalkeeper at Stamford Bridge next season. The Blues are ready to spend big on a goalkeeper this summer, with Sunderland's Robin Roefs understood to be a serious target.
The Blues announced on Sunday that Alonso will take over from July 1. The 44-year-old will inherit a team that has underperformed this season, and Chelsea's chances of European football next term are slim after their FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.
Landing Alonso is widely seen as a major coup for Chelsea given their Premier League struggles, and the club is expected to back their new manager in the transfer market. Signing a new goalkeeper appears to be a priority, with the £50 million-rated Roefs attracting interest from both Chelsea and Liverpool.
According to The Sun, both clubs are keen on Roefs, who has been a standout performer in his debut Premier League campaign with Sunderland. The uncertainty surrounding the first-choice goalkeepers at both clubs has fueled the interest.
For Liverpool, this relates to speculation over Alisson's future, with the Brazilian linked to Juventus. At Chelsea, Robert Sanchez has faced scrutiny since joining from Brighton, having failed to fully convince as the number one.
Roefs has kept 10 clean sheets for a Sunderland side that has exceeded pre-season expectations. The 23-year-old is now valued at more than five times the £9 million he was signed for last summer.
Although Chelsea could miss out on European competition entirely next season, the appointment of Alonso has been well received. The Spaniard was courted by several top European clubs less than 12 months ago, and his reputation remains high despite being sacked just seven months into a three-year contract at Real Madrid due to dressing room issues.
Alonso laid out his ambitions in his first statement after being confirmed, saying: "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."
