AFP|Published45 minutes agoWatch VideoXabi Alonso hails ‘great signing’ Morgan Rogers as Chelsea prepare for pre-season opener

Xabi Alonso expects R2.61 billion signee Morgan Rogers to elevate Chelsea’s competitiveness alongside Cole Palmer. Photo: AFP NewChelseamanagerXabi Alonsoon Monday saidMorgan Rogerswas “a great signing” who would make the club more competitive, expecting the England midfielder to “link really well” with Cole Palmer. The versatile Rogers was signed from Aston Villa last week for £117 million (about R2.61 billion), a record for a British player.

Alonso said he was “delighted” to lure the 23-year-old to Stamford Bridge ahead of his first match in charge, a pre-season friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday. “It’s a great signing. I think that in that position, we needed an important player, and I’m sure that there were not many better options than Morgan,” the Spaniard said.

“So, we are delighted. It means a lot for everyone.” The swoop is a significant statement of intent from Chelsea, who finished 10th in the Premier League last season and missed out on Europe. Alonso will have to find a way to accommodate Rogers, Palmer, Pedro Neto, Estevao Willian and another close-season signing, Geovany Quenda, into his attacking midfield positions.

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“I have a plan. I have an idea. I can see them linking really well,” Alonso said, on how Rogers could fit in alongside Palmer.

The pair are close friends who have similar playing styles. “You need to have a good mix, good stability players, and players that can play with more freedom,” Alonso added. “And if we get that balance right, and we get those special players in the right positions, with good control, I think that we will be more competitive with the ball and against the ball.” Chelsea had reportedly been chasing Rogers for two years and beat Arsenal to his signature after the Premier League champions refused to match the eye-watering fee demanded by Villa. His transfer surpassed the previous record fee for a British player set by Manchester City when they signed England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m (R2.58bn) earlier this month.

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