Alonso seeking to create 'complete squad' at Chelsea

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ShareChelsea have been linked with some shock moves this transfer window, as Xabi Alonso looks to add some experience to his young squad.Xabi Alonso is looking to put together a "complete squad" at Chelsea this season, with the club aiming to find "balance".Chelsea have made a habit of signing young talent in recent transfer windows with the view of building for the future.However, reports this year suggest the Blues are looking to add more experience to their squad, having been linked with Sunderland captain – and former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder – Granit Xhaka, who has made it clear he is staying put.Reports in recent days suggest Chelsea are making moves to sign Danny Welbeck from Brighton and Brentford's Jordan Henderson, with the former supposedly being given permission to undergo a medical.While Alonso refused to comment on specific players, he did hint that more experience will be added to the squad before the end of the transfer window."I'm sure that from now until the last day of the transfer [window] there will be a lot of rumours, so to be commenting on all of them," he said."It's going to be a hard task, but for sure we need proper balance in terms of qualities, in terms of positions, in terms of balance."We want to have a complete squad, and we want to make a good team. For that, we have an idea, we have a plan, and let's see how we set it up until the start of the Premier League."Welbeck enjoyed his most prolific Premier League campaign in 2025-26, netting 13 goals in 37 appearances – he has hit double figures for goals in each of the last two seasons.He has made 400 appearances in the English top-flight in his career, having played for the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Watford before joining Brighton.As for Henderson, he has played 463 games in the Premier League across his spells with Sunderland, Liverpool and Brentford, playing 32 times for the Bees last term.He led Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2019-20, as well as lifting the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup.Henderson was also included in England's World Cup squad, making a single appearance off the bench before breaking his arm in a freak accident trying to jump over an advertising board that ended his tournament. Chelsea have been linked with some shock moves this transfer window, as Xabi Alonso looks to add some experience to his young squad.Xabi Alonso is looking to put together a "complete squad" at Chelsea this season, with the club aiming to find "balance".Chelsea have made a habit of signing young talent in recent transfer windows with the view of building for the future.However, reports this year suggest the Blues are looking to add more experience to their squad, having been linked with Sunderland captain – and former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder – Granit Xhaka, who has made it clear he is staying put.Reports in recent days suggest Chelsea are making moves to sign Danny Welbeck from Brighton and Brentford's Jordan Henderson, with the former supposedly being given permission to undergo a medical.While Alonso refused to comment on specific players, he did hint that more experience will be added to the squad before the end of the transfer window."I'm sure that from now until the last day of the transfer [window] there will be a lot of rumours, so to be commenting on all of them," he said."It's going to be a hard task, but for sure we need proper balance in terms of qualities, in terms of positions, in terms of balance."We want to have a complete squad, and we want to make a good team. For that, we have an idea, we have a plan, and let's see how we set it up until the start of the Premier League."Welbeck enjoyed his most prolific Premier League campaign in 2025-26, netting 13 goals in 37 appearances – he has hit double figures for goals in each of the last two seasons.He has made 400 appearances in the English top-flight in his career, having played for the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Watford before joining Brighton.As for Henderson, he has played 463 games in the Premier League across his spells with Sunderland, Liverpool and Brentford, playing 32 times for the Bees last term.He led Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2019-20, as well as lifting the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup.Henderson was also included in England's World Cup squad, making a single appearance off the bench before breaking his arm in a freak accident trying to jump over an advertising board that ended his tournament.