According to The Athletic, the incoming Chelsea manager regards Reece James, Cole Palmer, Moisés Caicedo, Levi Colwill, Estêvão Willian, João Pedro and 20-year-old academy defender Josh Acheampong as the non-negotiable core of his squad.
Conspicuously absent from that list are Enzo Fernández and Marc Cucurella — the two longest-serving outfield players at the club, and the two whose public flirtations with the exit door this season left nobody guessing.
Fernández, 25, was handed an internal suspension in April after comments widely interpreted as signalling his desire to leave. Real Madrid, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have all been linked with the Argentina international. Chelsea signed him from Benfica in January 2023 for £106.8 million — a British transfer record at the time. Reports indicate Chelsea would demand a similar figure before sanctioning a sale.
Cucurella, 27, is understood to want a return to Spain. Barcelona are the most prominent suitors, though Manchester United and Manchester City have also been credited with interest according to Mundo Deportivo.
Both players produced inconsistent performances last season as Chelsea failed to qualify for the Champions League under a succession of managers. That failure carries financial consequences — the club faces pressure from both the FA and UEFA's financial regulations and needs to generate significant transfer income this summer.
Alonso, who takes formal charge on July 1 having previously visited Cobham to begin familiarising himself with the club's facilities, made securing assurances over transfer strategy a condition of taking the job. What he now has is clarity: the foundation he will build on, and the players he is prepared to move.
The rebuild begins in earnest.