Xabi Alonso has been running the rule over his Chelsea squad(Image: Brendon Thorne, Getty Images)
Chelsea are several weeks into the Xabi Alonso era and have already made additions to their squad under the new boss. However, the Spaniard's arrival could also present a route back into first team contention for some players who found themselves out of the picture under previous bosses.
The Blues have already spent more than £300million on new signings, with more than one third of that coming from their British record deal for Morgan Rogers. Some new arrivals were agreed before Alonso's arrival - including a big-money move for Geovany Quenda - while the former Bayer Leverkusen chief has also added Premier League experience in the form of Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson.
Money has been raised through the sales of Marc Cucurella, Andrey Santos and Tyrique George. More exits could yet follow as the new manager takes a proper look at his squad during pre-season.
At the same time, though, the change in the dugout could open doors for players who thought there time might have been up this time last year. Here, we've taken a look at five stars who could yet get a chance to resurrect their Chelsea careers.
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Mykhailo Mudryk's return could offer a fresh start
Mykhailo Mudryk spent time on the sidelines as a result of a doping ban but his availability makes him a notable name on this list. The winger was initially dropped from the Chelsea squad in November 2024 following a provisional suspension imposed by the Football Association.
The 25-year-old subsequently received the maximum four-year ban after an
