Chelsea
Caicedo’s Ambiguous Reply Keeps Real Madrid Interest Alive as Chelsea Struggles
Caicedo reiterated his Chelsea focus but admitted “You never know in football” after the break yet.
Moisés Caicedo answered questions about Real Madrid with an affirmation of his club commitment, but his language left room for uncertainty. When first asked about Los Blancos during the international break he insisted his “focus” remained on his club, where he hopes to one day “be a legend.” He followed that with a coy, “We’ll see what happens.”
When pressed again one week later, Caicedo offered a more open reflection. “You never know in football, don’t you think?” he told AS . “I have a contract with Chelsea now. The truth is, I haven’t honestly thought about another club, about leaving London, but well, in the end, you never know in football.
“All I want is to enjoy myself. I have a contract and I want to keep playing as long as God allows. After that, we’ll see what happens. I have a contract, but we’ll see what the future holds. Let’s see what surprises await us.”
Caicedo’s answers arrive against a backdrop of unrest at Stamford Bridge. His midfield colleague Fernández spent the international break expressing a desire to live in Madrid while still under contract, and Chelsea punished Fernández for two matches after manager Liam Rosenior claimed “a line was crossed.” That sanction could push Fernández closer to the 15-time European champions, who are seeking a high-profile midfielder.
Real Madrid’s interest is shaped by differing profiles. Rodri and Caicedo are noted for defensive qualities, while Fernández is valued for passing range, creativity and the ability to dictate the flow of play. Aurélien Tchouaméni is described as capable of performing the disrupter role, but Madrid still chase players who can influence possession and tempo.
Chelsea have endured a difficult season: the shock exit of former boss Enzo Maresca, persistent injury problems, a humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain and an underwhelming Premier League campaign. Amid that instability, links to departures for two of the club’s biggest stars add another headache.
Caicedo made clear his intent to repay the club that brought him in. “Yes, Chelsea is a great club,” he said. “They’ve helped me a lot since I arrived. I want to repay them, to show it in every game, for as long as I’m there. And well, time will tell.”
Chelsea
Morgan Rogers, Palmer and Alonso: How Chelsea May Shape Their New Attack
Alonso has a plan for Rogers, Palmer and Chelsea, but the exact shape remains the key question.
Chelsea’s move for Morgan Rogers has raised the same question many of their previous transfers did: what, exactly, is the long-term idea? Yet this deal appears to be different. Unlike much of the BlueCo recruitment that has come before it, Rogers was signed with Xabi Alonso’s backing, and the new manager has already outlined a clear intention for him.
Alonso spoke this week about Rogers’s adaptability, but his comments pointed towards a central role rather than a permanent place wide on the left. “I think that one of his best qualities is that he’s flexible,” Alonso said. He then added that Rogers is likely to operate in “that pocket position, close to the striker, close to the other 10,” while also noting that the player can work from the right or arrive from the left.
That possibility sits neatly with the assumption that Alonso may lean on a 3-4-2-1, the shape he used so effectively during Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten Bundesliga title run in 2023-24. In that system, Rogers could occupy the left-sided No. 10 role, with Cole Palmer alongside him and João Pedro ahead.
There are, however, other clues. Jamie Gittens, who has already felt the impact of tactical shifts in the past, sounded comfortable with the possibility of a wider role. “I think [Alonso’s style can suit him as a winger]. Last season was a 4-3-3 as well with two wingers which is always good, so let’s just see,” he said.
Alonso’s own recent history adds another layer. At Real Madrid last season, he used a 4-3-3 while trying to balance his squad, and this week he stressed that flexibility will remain central. “We will be flexible in our tactics, in our approaches, game plans,” he said. “For sure the ideas, the principles of what we want can be the same. But we have tried and we will try different ideas, mainly because these players have done it.
“So it’s not that I’m changing everything. It’s about updating, developing something that they have done with new concepts that each manager has. But the good thing is that many things that I like they have already done. So now it’s about changing or updating a few other things.”
The biggest tactical issue may be how Rogers and Palmer fit together. Alonso has made clear he wants them on the same side, saying: “I have a plan. I have an idea. I can see them linking really well.” Whether that means a shared central lane in a 3-4-2-1, or one of them drifting wide in a 4-3-3, will shape Chelsea’s attacking balance. A more adventurous option would place both behind a lone midfielder, a setup that may be reserved for weaker opponents.
Chelsea
Chelsea travel to Australia without Emegha, Quenda and Rogers
Chelsea have arrived in Australia without Emegha, Quenda and Rogers, but younger arrivals remain in the squad.
Chelsea have begun their preseason tour in Australia without three summer arrivals, with Emmanuel Emegha, Geovany Quenda and Morgan Rogers all missing from the travelling group.
Emegha and Quenda were both ruled out after minor injuries. Quenda’s absence should be brief, with Simon Johnson reporting that the winger is expected to join up with the squad for the second stage of the tour in Asia. Emegha, by contrast, is expected to spend about three weeks out and will not be back until after the squad returns.
Quenda’s £40 million ($53 million) move from Sporting CP had already been arranged in March 2025. His deal was agreed alongside Dário Essugo, who completed his move last summer.
Chelsea’s squad for the trip includes their goalkeepers Filip Jörgensen, Robert Sánchez, Ted Curd and Teddy Sharman-Lowe. The defensive group features Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, Aarón Anselmino, Levi Colwill, Calvin Diakite, Landon Emenalo, Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato, Marco Palestra, Mamadou Sarr and Tayo Subuloye. In midfield are Dário Essugo, Roméo Lavia, Madhi Nicoll-Jazuli, Reggie Walsh and Reggie Watson, while the forwards listed are Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, Omari Kellyman, Cole Palmer, João Pedro, Dastan Satpeyev and Estêvão.
Rogers is absent for a different reason. The club-record signing is being given time off after his Three Lions World Cup involvement this summer, with FIFA rules requiring players to have at least three weeks’ rest. With England involved until the third-place playoff on July 18, he is not expected at Chelsea’s training ground until early August.
That timeline makes the Aug. 8 friendly against AC Milan likely too soon for him. A first unofficial outing may instead come a week later against Real Sociedad.
Even with several names missing, Chelsea fans will still see some new arrivals in action. Marco Palestra is in the squad, as is Dastan Satpeyev, who does not turn 18 until Aug. 12. The change of manager has given the group a clean slate, and several younger players will hope this becomes their opening to the 2026-27 campaign.
Aston Villa
Chelsea move for MacPhee underlines the value of set-piece expertise
Chelsea are close to appointing Austin MacPhee, a move that strengthens their set-piece department ahead of 2026-27.
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.
