Alejandro Garnacho has not joined up with the Chelsea squad for pre-season as the Premier League club actively look to sell the winger.

Chelsea began pre-season training on Thursday for those members of the first-team squad not at the World Cup, but Garnacho was absent from the sessions at Cobham.

The situation is reflective of the 21-year-old's uncertain future at Stamford Bridge following an underwhelming season after his £40m move from Manchester United on a seven-year contract.

Chelsea value Garnacho in the £43m (50m Euros) region but will only entertain permanent offers, despite reports of loan interest from Serie A club Roma.

Premier League, European and clubs in Saudi Arabia are also believed to have shown an interest, with talks open and advancing with several parties. Manchester United are due 10% of any sale.

Garnacho scored just one Premier League goal in 24 matches, albeit with 10 appearances as a substitute, having struggled to start regularly under Enzo Maresca and then Liam Rosenior.

Any exit is part of a reshaping of Chelsea's squad this summer for new manager Xabi Alonso.

Image source, Getty Images

Xabi Alonso is asked about Alejandro Garnacho and not joining up with the squad for pre-season, he said: "There is an interest for him from another club, let's see how it develops."

"Time will tell" Alonso said when asked if he will be given time to build his team.

"I am optimistic to think we will have a great season"

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, asked how ready he feels to take charge of a club like Chelsea:

"I want to enjoy it, I want to be part of this club, work together with the board of directors, with the players, with the staff around.

"I see that it's a club with a great potential we need for sure to make important decisions, the right decisions, but I think that they have a strong base already built.

"Now we have to build and build this mentality, to be competitive on the pitch, to win games and enjoy it."

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Xabi Alonso said "it's not a big surprise" that he still has players away at the World Cup.

"Hopefully, in the end we will have a world champion"

"We will adapt and speed up preparation with some players"

On the identity he wants to build, Alonso says he has thought of this "for sure", but adds that his side need a good mentality.

Alonso says Cole Palmer is a "special talent" and is happy Palmer has returned with a good mindset for the new season.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on what excites him about taking charge of Chelsea: "First of all, good afternoon everyone. Thank you for your congratulations.

"The excitement is the club, the squad, the opportunity from the owner to come to this great club and to create excitement, respond with the supporters, to win games and be successful."

Image source, PA Media

Xabi Alonso has also added that he has spoke with Enzo Fernandez and would like him to stay at Chelsea.

"The main focus about how we are going to start the competition in August is not going to change much," Alonso said in terms of not having European football at Chelsea.

Image source, Getty Images

"We are starting from zero" Alonso answers next.

"It is important we build the right mentality to compete," he added.

"I want to enjoy it" Alonso said next. He seems very ready to take on this new role.

"We are ambitious" he added.

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has sat down and speaks about what excites him about joining Chelsea.

"The chance and hour and opportunity to join this great club and create excitement"

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso was seen doing a mixture of ball and fitness work in his first training session at Chelsea.

As well as carrying out internal media duties, the 44-year-old toured the facilities.

He had also visited last month to meet key staff like the medical department but has now formally settled into his new office at the training ground.

Meanwhile, the players were instructed to arrive at around 9am for an extended reintroduction to training as pre-season preparations began ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

Exact details of the training session are scarce, but Alonso is known to be highly hands-on and to demand intense sessions from his players.

We do know some of the players involved, notably new signings Geovany Quenda, Emmanuel Emegha and Dastan Satpaev. The latter was given permission by his club, FC Kairat, to begin training early ahead of his move officially going through when he turns 18 in August.

Chelsea's squad was largely made up of players who were not selected for the World Cup, including Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Levi Colwill.

There were also academy players in the session, including Reggie Walsh, Mahdi Nichol-Jazuli, Landon Emenalo, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and Calvin Diakite.

In addition, Rob Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Gabriel Slonina and Teddy Sharman-Lowe took part in goalkeeper training.

Further outfield players included Aaron Anselmino, Wesley Fofana, Dario Essugo, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, Josh Acheampong, Estevao Willian and Romeo Lavia.

Chelsea will train at Cobham until their overseas pre-season tour begins on 25 July. Their first match is against Western Sydney Wanderers on 28 July, before further fixtures in Australia and across Asia.

The Blues begin their Premier League season away at Fulham on 24 August.

Image source, Getty Images

Last Thursday marked Xabi Alonso's first day at Chelsea's Cobham training ground as the new Blues manager.

Alonso signed in and met members of the squad not currently on World Cup duty or on holiday following an exit from the tournament.

Players reporting for duty included Robert Sanchez, Levi Colwill, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer, who brought in his new branded range of ice cubes.

Speaking to club media on his first day, Alonso said: "It feels great.

"It's a big honour to be part of this club - it's a great club, one of the best in the world over the last few decades. It's a big privilege to be part of it.

"We have challenges, nice challenges, ahead of us - but, this is the beauty of the moment."

The deal to bring Alonso to Stamford Bridge was completed early in the summer, ending uncertainty and speculation over Chelsea's managerial position, but Thursday marked the first day he could begin work with some of his squad.

"The timings are always important and it came at the right time for all the parts, and believing that the potential and the opportunity to come to this club was the right one," the Spaniard added.

"The potential of the team and the squad made me very excited - to find a squad to work with, to create a football idea and to bring excitement to the stadium and to connect to the fans.

"I've been there at Stamford Bridge, mostly on the other side, but I know the energy that the stadium has and we need to create that energy and bond with all the parts."

Image source, Getty Images

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

Chelsea appointed Xabi Alonso on 17 May, then missed out on European football by losing to Sunderland a week later in their final Premier League match of the season.

Alonso, 44, spent a couple of days visiting Chelsea's training ground with his staff in June, holding introductory meetings and familiarising themselves with the club and the task ahead.

They then returned home to work remotely, with Alonso in constant contact with his new employers over potential signings. He spoke directly to players including Marco Palestra, who has since joined the club, and Marc Cucurella before his move to Real Madrid.

He began his first training sessions last Thursday ahead of a number of pre-season matches, before Chelsea open their Premier League campaign away at Fulham on 24 August.

Image source, Getty Images

Just before we look at Alonso's first two weeks at Chelsea, let's remind you that you can vote on how the Spaniard will do in his first season by taking part in the poll at the top of the page.

Currently, 55% of you think Chelsea will seal a Champions League spot, whilst 10% of you think he can win the title.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

It is commonplace for Chelsea to unveil a new manager at an event at Stamford Bridge when an appointment is made between seasons.

From Antonio Conte and Frank Lampard to Mauricio Pochettino and, most recently, Enzo Maresca, all have gone through the process.

It is usually an opportunity for both the media in attendance and, more importantly, Chelsea's new head coach to make an early impression.

There is normally an hour to prepare questions, speak to staff and set up cameras before the news conference begins.

The manager then heads out on to the pitch for photographs and broadcast footage, before conducting a few more interviews.