Chelsea set to sign 'next Mbappe'

Chelsea fans have become used to the constant change of managers over the past few seasons, and Xabi Alonso is the latest manager to attempt to end the club's drought.

The Spaniard will take over at Stamford Bridge on June 1, after signing a four-year deal in West London following the sacking of Liam Rosenior.

The 44-year-old will need time to make his mark at the senior club, having gone nearly a decade without a top-flight title.

BlueCo have been showing their ability to spend big in the transfer market – spending £1.7b on new additions from the summer of 2022.

However, they will need to re-issue the scouting manual this summer as the new manager will certainly want to make changes to his squad to help his chances of immediate and long-term success.

Chelsea are stepping up their move to sign the £100m star this summer

Over the past few days, Chelsea have been on the hunt for a number of big-money talents ahead of next summer's transfer window.

Valentin Barco is one player who looks certain to make a move to Stamford Bridge, after the Argentine midfielder sent a farewell message to Strasbourg fans.

The youngster has reportedly agreed a six-year contract with Alonso's club, but no transfer fee has been confirmed ahead of a pending move to West London.

Barco will not be the last player to move to the Blues this summer, with Bournemouth talisman Eli Kroupi Junior also a potential signing.

According to Mail Online, Chelsea are preparing a deal for the French player who scored 13 goals in his first season in the Premier League.

The report also claims that Arsenal are another club interested in the 19-year-old, but any deal would cost any interested club a pretty penny this window.

It is said that the Cherries do not want to release the boy at the moment, and previous reports said that they would not consider selling him for less than £100m.

Why Kroupi would be better than Chelsea's Joao Pedro

Only last summer Chelsea completed an overhaul of the striker position, with Joao Pedro moving to Stamford Bridge from Brighton & Hove Albion for £60m.

The Brazilian has been tasked with leading the Blues this campaign, something he has been able to do – as evidenced by his impressive goals.

He currently sits on 15 goals in the Premier League this season – more than any player in Chelsea's squad, with only three players in this division having scored more.

Pedro's hat-trick against Aston Villa in March was arguably the highlight of his career in West London – but he may find consistent minutes hard to come by next term.

Kroupi's move could see a lot of competition for the striker's starting role, with the youngster set to be a potential replacement for May's number nine in years to come.

If you compare the figures of the two for the 2025/26 campaign, the Cherries talisman has managed to outdo the Brazilian in many key areas.

Kroupi, dubbed “the next Mbappe” by GOAL, may have scored fewer goals so far, but he has posted a better average per minute per goal than the Blues striker this season.

He also registered a better shot on target accuracy rate, showing his ability to make the most of the opportunities and clinical nature at his disposal.

The Frenchman's 1.2 goals per 90 goals – which is also higher than Pedro's – puts him in the top 5% of strikers in the Premier League this campaign.

Like the aforementioned stats, such a statistic highlights his threat in the final third, and the youngster will only improve with more experience in England's top flight.

Landing the Cherries star will no doubt give Alonso the extra boost he is looking for after agreeing to take over at Stamford Bridge.

£100m would be one of the club's biggest signings, but it will secure a talent that can flourish at home and across the continent during the Spaniard's reign.

Replacing Kroupi with Pedro in the summer may seem like a bold call – but it's those kinds of decisions that will help the club push for title glory under a new management team.