{"id":47397,"date":"2026-05-20T01:54:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T05:54:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/20\/experienced-goalkeeper-becomes-a-serious-target-for-chelsea-after-xabi-alonso-joins\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T01:54:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T05:54:40","slug":"experienced-goalkeeper-becomes-a-serious-target-for-chelsea-after-xabi-alonso-joins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/20\/experienced-goalkeeper-becomes-a-serious-target-for-chelsea-after-xabi-alonso-joins\/","title":{"rendered":"Experienced goalkeeper becomes a serious target for Chelsea after Xabi Alonso joins"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/20\/experienced-goalkeeper-becomes-a-serious-target-for-chelsea-after-xabi-alonso-joins\/#Xabi_Alonso_ready_to_make_big_changes_at_Chelsea\" >Xabi Alonso ready to make big changes at Chelsea<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/20\/experienced-goalkeeper-becomes-a-serious-target-for-chelsea-after-xabi-alonso-joins\/#Blues_want_experienced_goalkeeper\" >Blues want experienced goalkeeper<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p><strong>Xabi Alonso has yet to officially start work at Chelsea, but his arrival is already changing the club&#8217;s mind.<br \/><\/strong><br \/>One of the biggest early changes appears to be in goal, with Chelsea no longer expected to simply hand over the No. 1 shirt to Mike Penders next season.<\/p>\n<p>According to TEAMtalk, Alonso&#8217;s appointment has prompted Chelsea to reconsider their goalkeeping plans.<\/p>\n<div aria-labelledby=\"primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-sender primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-message_text primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-alt_text primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-date_time primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-reaction_count primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-reply_count primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-link_count primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-attachment_count primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-has_draft_reply primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-pinned_state primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-edited_state primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-later_state primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-broadcast_state primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-broadcast_thread_root_message primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-translated_state\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" id=\"message-list_1779082922.637049\" style=\"clear:left;\">\n<div>\n<div aria-roledescription=\"message\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><b>Download the official CaughtOffSide app to get all the latest news and updates straight to your phone. above <\/b><b><u><span draggable=\"true\">apple<\/span><\/u><\/b><b>    &#038; <\/b><b><u><span draggable=\"true\">Google play<\/span><\/u><\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Penders was previously thought to be a potential long-term solution after his development away from Stamford Bridge, but the new manager appears to want a more established player for now.<\/p>\n<p>AC Milan&#8217;s Mike Maignan is currently considered a likely option, with Bert Verbruggen, Robin Roofs, Jordan Pickford, Marco Carnesecchi and Diogo Costa also being praised.<\/p>\n<p>This makes a lot of sense considering the scale of the job Alonso is undertaking.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Xabi_Alonso_ready_to_make_big_changes_at_Chelsea\"><\/span>Xabi Alonso ready to make big changes at Chelsea<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Chelsea have confirmed his appointment as their new manager on a four-year contract from July 1, 2026, and it is hoped he will have more influence than some recent Chelsea managers.<\/p>\n<p>That means his opinion on key positions should have real weight.<\/p>\n<p>The goalkeeper is not the most important element in Alonso&#8217;s football. If Chelsea want to build properly from the back, control the game and play confidently under pressure, they need a goalkeeper they can fully rely on.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s why Menyan stands out. He was 30 years old, experienced, used to being on the ball and used to playing for a huge club, AC Milan.<\/p>\n<p>He won&#8217;t be a development gamble. He will be a &#8220;come in and lead right away&#8221; deal.<br \/>That&#8217;s probably Pender&#8217;s problem. No one is saying he doesn&#8217;t have talent.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, his loan spell at Strasbourg contributed to his reputation. But being talented and being ready to become Chelsea&#8217;s first-choice goalkeeper are two completely different things.<\/p>\n<p>Stamford Bridge is not an easy place for a young keeper to learn on the job, especially with Alonso expected to raise standards quickly.<\/p>\n<p>Verbruggen and Rufus are interesting alternatives as they both have strong potential.<\/p>\n<p>Verbruggen already has Premier League experience with Brighton, while Roofs is making a name for himself at Sunderland. But the concerns are clear: neither has the same elite-level background as Maignan.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Blues_want_experienced_goalkeeper\"><\/span>Blues want experienced goalkeeper<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If Chelsea want immediate goal-scoring authority, they may prefer a player who has already dealt with Champions League nights, title pressures and international football.<\/p>\n<p>Pickford is a different kind of option. He brings Premier League experience, leadership and personality.<\/p>\n<p>Carnesecchi and Diogo Costa will present different profiles, but Costa in particular has long been regarded as one of Europe&#8217;s strong modern goalkeepers.<\/p>\n<p>Menyan is the most logical name on the list. He will bring serenity, fame and authority.<\/p>\n<p>The only problem is cost and availability. Chelsea shouldn&#8217;t overpay Alonso because he wants experience, but if a deal is realistic, it could be one of their smartest moves of the summer.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Chelsea close in on signing 12-G\/A South American utility man as negotiations intensify <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End -->\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Xabi Alonso has yet to officially start work at Chelsea, but his arrival is already changing the club&#8217;s mind.One of the biggest early changes appears to be in goal, with Chelsea no longer expected to simply hand over the No. 1 shirt to Mike Penders next season. According to TEAMtalk, Alonso&#8217;s appointment has prompted Chelsea [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42403,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[40],"class_list":{"0":"post-47397","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-football"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47397","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47397"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47397\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}