Xabi Alonso’s 12-player scouting mission with Chelsea transfer plans uncertain

There are 12 Chelsea players currently representing their nations at the World Cup with Xabi Alonso keeping a close eye on all of them and how they get on this summer

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With just over a week until Xabi Alonso gets his feet under his new desk at Chelsea ‘s training base in Cobham, the Spaniard will be keen to enjoy the final days of what has been a prolonged holiday.

Like all football supporters all around the globe, Alonso will likely be watching the World Cup on his television at every available moment (despite the inconvenient time difference). That in itself could count as work because Alonso will be keeping a close eye on potential targets for Chelsea in the summer transfer window, while also focusing on the Blues players representing their nations at the tournament.

There are 12 Chelsea players (one of them who has not officially signed) currently playing at the World Cup. So, with that being said, football.london takes a close look at how each and every one of them have fared thus far as we approach the conclusion of the group stages in North America.

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Enzo Fernandez and Valentin Barco

Fernandez is of course in the news at the moment as Real Madrid’s pursuit of the Chelsea midfielder continues. The 25-year-old midfielder last month informed the Blues of his desire to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, all too aware of Los Blancos’ interest in his services.

While his entourage attempt to sort out his future, Fernandez has been focused on the World Cup and Argentina’s defence of football’s most iconic trophy. It has been the perfect start for the Argentines and while Fernandez has impressed, it has very much been the Lionel Messi show so far – with the 38-year-old scoring a hat-trick against Algeria and then adding a brace in the win over Austria on Monday evening.

Barco, who is set to join Chelsea from Strasbourg this summer, is yet to get on the pitch for the Argentines.

Mike Penders

Meanwhile, it has been a stuttering start for Belgium at the World Cup. After rescuing a point on matchday one against Egypt, the Belgians were then held to a goalless draw with Iran six days later.

For Penders, it is pretty much what he expected. Thibaut Courtois is Belgium’s undisputed No.1 goalkeeper, so he has been watching on from the sidelines. As reported last month, Alonso is set to have a close look at Penders during pre-season as the club prepares to give the Belgian shot-stopper the opportunity to fight for the No.1 jersey with Robert Sanchez next term.

Nicolas Jackson and Mamadou Sarr

Jackson impressed in Senegal’s opener against France despite Les Bleus coming through victorious in New Jersey. The Chelsea striker, who Alonso is set to take a close look at this summer before making a decision over his future, also completed the full 90 minutes in the 3-2 defeat to Norway in the early hours of Tuesday morning – leaving the Africans on the brink.

As for Sarr, he is yet to play a single minute in the tournament. The Blues defender is behind the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly and Moussa Niakhate in the pecking order at the time of writing.

Kendry Paez and Moises Caicedo

Ecuador, like the aforementioned Senegal, are yet to win at the World Cup. Caicedo produced a strong performance in the centre of midfield on Sunday but it was a shocking result for the South Americans, who were held to a goalless draw with Curacao.

Paez, meanwhile, is yet to come off the bench for Ecuador this summer. It has been a disappointing showing from the Ecuadorians, who were backed by many to go a long way this summer, thus far, but they have an outside chance of going through on matchday three.

Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah

James impressed in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia last week. The Chelsea captain started the game at right-back but later moved into midfield when Declan Rice was taken off as a precaution. James looked really handy in the centre of the pitch at a critical time for the Three Lions, who play later this evening (Tuesday) against Ghana.

Chalobah was a late addition to the squad, with the Chelsea defender replacing the injured Tino Livramento. The 26-year-old is probably not expecting to play too many minutes this summer given he was a late call-up but he will be prepared just in case.

Pedro Neto

While Portugal stuttered in their opener against DR Congo, Neto was one of the most impressive players on the pitch. The Chelsea winger produced a fine cross to set up Portugal’s only goal, with Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Joao Neves heading into the right-hand corner.

Neto will be hoping to be involved for Roberto Martinez’s side when they take on Uzbekistan this evening in what seems like a must-win match for one of the pre-tournament favourites.

Jorrel Hato

After a 2-2 draw with Japan in the Netherlands’ opener, they picked up a crucial – and convincing – three points with a 5-1 victory over Sweden on Saturday night. Hato, however, who impressed in the second half of Chelsea’s 2025/26 season, was an unused substitute – as was the case in the draw with Japan as well.

Hato will be hoping for some minutes when Holland take on Tunisia in the early hours of Friday morning.

Malo Gusto

It was a dream come true for Gusto, who made his World Cup debut on Monday evening as he made a late cameo appearance for France in their 3-0 victory over Iraq. Les Bleus, the bookies’ overwhelming favourites to win the competition at the time of writing, secured their passage into the knockout stages with the convincing victory in Philadelphia.

Given there is not too much to play for from France’s perspective against Norway in matchday three, Gusto will be hoping there is some rotation from Didier Deschamps.

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