Chelsea are reportedly closing in on the appointment of Austin MacPhee, who is expected to join Xabi Alonso’s coaching setup before the 2026-27 season begins.

MacPhee is set to leave Aston Villa after five seasons and step into the set-piece coach role at Chelsea, taking over from Bernardo Cueva. Cueva will remain part of Alonso’s staff, although in a behind-the-scenes capacity.

The move highlights how far the game has shifted. Set-piece coaching is no longer a detail tucked away on a staff chart. In modern soccer, dead-ball situations now carry major weight, with some teams placing them alongside, or even above, open-play structure as a route to goals.

What once passed almost unnoticed is now treated as a core part of club planning. Specialists in this area can shape results, and Chelsea appear to have targeted one of the most respected names in that field.

MacPhee’s work at Aston Villa made the club one of the most dangerous set-piece sides in Europe. His methods were described as innovative, creative and lethal, giving Unai Emery’s attack an added threat from dead-ball situations.

The numbers support that reputation. Villa scored 29 set-piece goals last season, the joint-most in Europe’s top-five leagues alongside Arsenal. Chelsea, by comparison, scored 21.

In a sport where efficiency from set pieces can be decisive, Chelsea are strengthening a department that has become increasingly important across the game.

If MacPhee does arrive, it will be the third separate piece of business between Chelsea and Aston Villa during the summer transfer window. Earlier in the month, Chelsea made attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers the most expensive British player in history, paying a club-record $157.3 million (£117 million) to sign the England international from Villa.

With the World Cup having only recently concluded, Premier League clubs are already deep into their 2026/27 preseason programmes. The calendar is tight, the travel is heavy and the purpose is clear: get players ready, test combinations and give new faces a chance to make an early impression.

Arsenal, the reigning champions, are among the later starters. Their first friendly comes on Aug. 1 against Girona in Catalonia, before further meetings with Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund and Como. They will then face Manchester City in the Community Shield at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Aston Villa have already opened with a 5-0 win over Walsall and continue across Europe and Asia, while Bournemouth began with a 4-1 victory against St. Pauli. Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion both have short schedules remaining, with each taking on European opposition in mid-August.

Chelsea’s first run under new manager Xabi Alonso takes them to Australia for matches against Western Sydney Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur, before trips through Hong Kong, Jakarta and Malaysia. Their final friendly is against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge.

Elsewhere, Everton have mixed early results and face a demanding route through Scotland, Germany and home soil before meeting Lille. Fulham also have work to do after a behind-closed-doors defeat to Norwich City. Hull City, Ipswich Town and Coventry City all have their own preparations mapped out, while Crystal Palace have already played twice and continue with fixtures in Italy and Germany.

Liverpool’s schedule includes a United States tour against Sunderland, Wrexham and Leeds United, followed by Monaco and two games against Como on Aug. 16. Manchester City are taking a lighter approach, starting with Inter in Hong Kong before facing the K-League All-Stars, Atlético Madrid and Arsenal. Manchester United, meanwhile, have already lost to Wrexham and beaten Rosenborg 5-0, with Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Leeds United and Milan still to come.

Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur also remain busy, with each club using these final weeks to sharpen up before the league begins.

Chelsea’s new chapter under Xabi Alonso begins this summer, with the manager facing a series of early judgments as BlueCo’s four-year project moves into its fifth phase. For several players, preseason may shape far more than fitness levels. It could define their place in the squad.

Wesley Fofana is one of the clearest cases. Supporters’ patience has already been tested, and the end of last season did him no favours. Two red cards in the final three months, including one on the final day in the defeat to Sunderland, damaged his standing. With Maxence Lacroix arriving from Crystal Palace, Fofana’s route into Alonso’s starting side is not obvious. A strong summer may rescue his Chelsea future, while a quiet one could leave him vulnerable.

Josh Acheampong also enters the period under pressure. Long regarded as one of England’s top young defenders and a standout from the academy, he managed only eight Premier League starts last season. He started just once across Chelsea’s final 12 matches, while his other five appearances totalled only 18 minutes. With Levi Colwill expected to start when fit and Lacroix narrowing the available minutes, Acheampong may have to fight Fofana directly for the role of first reserve.

Cole Palmer is in a different position, but the spotlight is no less intense. He is not expected to leave or lose his place, yet his profile has risen again after being omitted from England’s World Cup squad. He was among the first to meet Alonso, giving him an early chance to settle into the new tactical picture. Supporters will want the version of Palmer who thrived under Mauricio Pochettino, not the one who had mixed form under Enzo Maresca.

Jamie Gittens also needs a sharp response after a difficult first season. Chelsea committed around $76 million (£55 million) to bring him from Borussia Dortmund, but he produced only one goal in 27 games. Morgan Rogers’s imminent record move suggests Chelsea have already moved on from the experiment, and a poor preseason could confirm that view.

Liam Delap faces similar scrutiny after scoring three goals in 47 games last season. Even with only 20 starts, he never convinced he deserved more. Chelsea have strikers to spare, João Pedro looks secure, and Delap’s position is far from safe. Emmanuel Emegha’s arrival through the Strasbourg route underlines how quickly circumstances can change.