Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on Chelsea ahead of the January window, confirming that Xabi Alonso wants the hierarchy to sign a player he wanted in 2024.

Chelsea are expected to sign a midfielder in the January window. It comes after selling Enzo Fernandez to Man City, but failing to replace the 2022 World Cup winner. Lamine Camara came close, but to no avail.

Alex Scott remains a priority in the winter window, but in recent days, Chelsea are being strongly linked with a move for Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi. The Gunners are willing to sell him if they rake in a £60m fee.

Romano says Chelsea will have to pay a big amount of money

Zubimendi joined Arsenal in the summer of 2025 from Sociedad, and after an excellent start, he dropped out of Mike Arteta’s starting XI. This term. Bruno Guimaraes has joined, and Myles Lewis-Skelly is starting.

Arsenal want a winger and need to sell to raise funds for a major purchase. Fabrizio Romano has told his YouTube that Alonso loves Zubimendi. Alonso almost joined Bayern in 2024 and wanted Zubimendi.

“I’m talking the times Bayern wanted Xabi Alonso. He rejected them because he wanted to go to Real Madrid at that time. But when he met with Bayern, he told them, “If I’m coming, I want Zubimendi.”

“So he’s a player he loves. One day, Xabi Alonso would love to work with Zubimendi, but at the moment, again, that’s it. And also, to see Arsenal selling to Chelsea, obviously, that would take very big money.”

What is stopping Chelsea from signing Martin Zubimendi?

Had Chelsea made a brilliant start to the season – instead of the four losses picked up already – then Arsenal might have seen Chelsea as title challengers and the chances of selling to them would be nil.

As it turns out, the best an inconsistent Chelsea can hope for is Champions League qualification, in fourth or fifth. After all, Arsenal and Chelsea always do business; just ask Kai Havertz, Kepa and Noni Madueke.

Chelsea can easily afford Zubimendi’s £60m price tag. But the biggest stumbling block is Zubimendi himself, despite the chance to reunite with his old Sociedad B-team manager in Chelsea gaffer Alonso.

“Staying at Arsenal until June? I think so. I am happy there. Arteta explained the plan to me at the start of the season, and we’re here, fighting,” Zubimendi said, speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca this week.

Zubimendi might want to stay, but if Arsenal choose to sell, then reuniting with his old gaffer and not having to relocate far may suit the 2026 World Cup winner. It feels like it will take a lot of convincing.