According to a report by Football London on Friday, October 23, 2026, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has been encouraged to invest in Estevão Willian’s development instead of pursuing a reported £116 million deal for Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz.

Estevão has found regular first-team football difficult to secure this season, having failed to start a Premier League match and accumulated fewer than 30 minutes in the competition since Alonso’s appointment at Stamford Bridge.

Despite having several talented attacking players at his disposal, including Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and João Pedro, Alonso has come under scrutiny over the limited opportunities available to the Brazilian teenager.

Chelsea’s reported interest in Wirtz could intensify those concerns because the Germany international is capable of playing in positions similar to those occupied by Estevão.

Alonso reportedly wants to work with Wirtz again following their previous spell together. Nevertheless, the potential £116 million investment could raise questions if the midfielder’s arrival further restricts Estevão’s chances of breaking into the starting team.

Both footballers are capable of creating scoring opportunities and operating in advanced midfield positions behind the striker within Alonso’s flexible 3-4-2-1 system.

Estevão usually operates on the right flank, where his impressive dribbling, attacking intent and creativity allow him to trouble opposition defenders. His performances in the 2025/26 season demonstrated that he possesses the qualities required to excel at the highest level, although regular minutes will be crucial to his development.

Figures from FotMob show that the Brazilian averaged 3.09 successful dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season. This placed him above 94.7 per cent of midfielders competing in England’s top division.

Wirtz, on the other hand, averaged 1.47 successful dribbles per 90 minutes during his Premier League campaign with Liverpool, where he scored five goals and recorded three assists across 33 appearances.

The contrasting figures have prompted debate about whether a reported £116 million transfer would significantly improve Wirtz’s output this season. Estevão, despite his limited involvement, has already contributed to four goals, demonstrating the attacking threat he can provide when given the opportunity.

His goals against Barcelona in both the Champions League and the Club World Cup have also showcased his composure in front of goal, reinforcing the belief that he has considerable potential.

Chelsea must now decide whether to increase Estevão’s involvement in the team, even if doing so means reducing the playing time of some of their other attacking options.

Wirtz could undoubtedly bring additional creativity and quality to the squad. However, investing more than £70 million in another attacking player who occupies a similar position could create an even greater obstacle for Estevão as he attempts to establish himself.

Rather than committing to another expensive signing, Chelsea could benefit from giving the Brazilian more opportunities to prove his worth. Doing so would help Alonso determine whether Estevão can become an important part of the club’s future before the Blues invest heavily in another player competing for a similar role.