Chelsea’s first public friendly of the Xabi Alonso era produced a frantic 6-4 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday, but the scoreline told only part of the story. It was a match that moved from youthful uncertainty to second-half authority, with the Blues trailing 3-2 before their established names arrived and changed the game.

Alonso kept faith with a four-back structure in Sydney, continuing the 4-2-3-1 shape already used in closed-door meetings with Bromley and Crawley Town. Even without the ball, Chelsea pressed into a 4-4-2. That does not lock the manager into one system for the season, especially with more senior players still to return, but it is now three games from three in which 4-2-3-1 has been the clear starting point.

The opening hour was heavily weighted towards youth. Liam Delap, Tosin Adarabioyo, Josh Acheampong and Dário Essugo were the only first-team players in the starting XI, with academy prospects filling the rest of the side. The inexperience was obvious, and Western Sydney made the most of it by creating problems for both versions of Chelsea’s defence.

Once the substitutions came, the balance shifted. Cole Palmer, Estêvão, João Pedro, Levi Colwill and Marco Palestra all entered with Chelsea behind, and the team quickly looked more capable of imposing itself. The late stages became the ‘Pedro Show’ as Chelsea’s main striker set up one goal and scored three more to settle the contest.

There was also a clear lesson in the striker pecking order. Delap had a chance to make his case while Pedro was on the bench, with Emmanuel Emegha injured and Nicolas Jackson not yet with the group after the World Cup. Instead, Delap’s hour brought loose passing and visible frustration, while 17-year-old Satpayev stood out with an early opener that showed a sharper edge.

Satpayev is expected to go on loan, but the broader picture is clear enough. One senior striker will likely leave, and perhaps two if Chelsea secure their preferred move for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Danny Welbeck. Pedro’s position is not in doubt, leaving Delap, Jackson and Emegha to compete for limited space. This performance did Delap no favours.

It remains a friendly, and Chelsea were far from full strength. Western Sydney earned their goals and, for long spells, looked every bit the equal of Alonso’s side.

Chelsea’s summer business is beginning to show a noticeable change in philosophy. After the collapse of the second half of the 2025-26 campaign, the club’s ownership have made it clear that adjustments were coming, and those changes now appear to be taking shape.

The signs have been hard to miss. Liam Rosenior’s methods unsettled existing cliques, repeated yellow cards for dissent became an issue, and senior players were openly calling for more experience in the squad. Against that backdrop, Chelsea have already explored moves that would have looked unusual not long ago.

Earlier this summer, there was a failed attempt to sign Sunderland veteran Granit Xhaka. Interest was also shown in former Manchester City centre back John Stones. More recently, attention has turned to 35-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion striker Danny Welbeck and, as reported by Fabrizio Romano, 36-year-old Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson.

For a club that has spent so much energy chasing potential, the focus on older, established professionals is notable. Chelsea have often prioritised on-field upside, but the less visible qualities that define a dressing room have too often been overlooked. The drop in standards since the departures of figures such as N’Golo Kanté, César Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva has been clear.

That is where Henderson fits into the picture. His value would likely be felt most strongly away from matchday headlines, in the daily environment of the dressing room. Over the past decade, few Premier League leaders have had a stronger reputation for influence, with his attitude and determination repeatedly highlighted as major parts of his success.

He remains part of Thomas Tuchel’s England plans despite not being viewed as direct competition for minutes. At the 2026 World Cup, he played six minutes off the bench after a surprise call-up, and even a broken arm did not send him home.

Tuchel said of him in March 2025: “He embodies everything,” Tuchel said of Henderson as he recalled the midfielder to his England setup in March 2025. “He is a serial winner, his personality and character … he is the glue in every team that he has played, the glue that makes things special.

“I am convinced. If a teacher in a school is convinced about the quality of the class, the character of the class, it is better than the other way around.”

Brentford manager Keith Andrews was similarly direct, saying “the way [Henderson] carries himself, his presence on the pitch and his leadership qualities” mattered as much as what he offered on the ball.

Chelsea are said to be “optimistic” about a deal for Brighton & Hove Albion striker Danny Welbeck, with the club now “explore” a transfer for the 35-year-old. The Athletic have confirmed that discussions with Brighton are at an early stage, even as Chelsea continue to be linked with other experienced names, including free agent John Stones and Brentford veteran Jordan Henderson.

Welbeck’s case is built on form, experience and value. The former Arsenal and Manchester United centre forward has settled well on the south coast and produced 13 Premier League goals last season, following 10 in the previous campaign. For a player in the latter stages of his career, that remains a strong return and one that helps explain why Chelsea are considering him.

Alonso is believed to see Welbeck as a “player and leader”, someone who could guide a younger squad while still contributing on the pitch. If the move happened, Welbeck would follow a familiar route from Brighton to Stamford Bridge, with Robert Sánchez, João Pedro and Moisés Caicedo already part of the current squad after leaving the same club.

The approach would sit outside Chelsea’s usual transfer model, which has generally focused on collecting some of the game’s most sought-after young players. Even so, Welbeck could offer qualities the squad has lacked. He is a penalty-box striker who can provide goals, particularly off the bench, and the numbers from last season support that view. Only eight players scored more in the Premier League, while Pedro was the only Chelsea player to finish above him. Among players who attempted at least 30 shots, only four had a better conversion rate than Welbeck’s 23%.

There is also the question of cost. With just 12 months left on his Brighton contract, he could be a relatively inexpensive option, although no fee has been reported. Beyond that, he brings knowledge of the demands placed on players at a traditional “Big Six” club and offers leadership in a dressing room where the oldest squad members are 28.

Chelsea’s forward picture remains unsettled. Pedro is the current first-choice No. 9 after a 20-goal debut season and will be fresh after being left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad. Nicolas Jackson, back from a loan spell at Bayern Munich in which he scored 11 times, is expected to get a chance in preseason. But his future, like those of Marc Guiu, Liam Delap and Emmanuel Emegha, is uncertain.