New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has described Morgan Rogers as “a great signing” who will make the club more competitive, adding that he expects the England midfielder to link up well with Cole Palmer.
Chelsea completed the signing of the versatile 23-year-old from Aston Villa last week for £117 million ($157 million) a record fee for a British player.
Speaking ahead of his first match in charge, a pre-season friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday, Alonso said he was delighted to bring Rogers to Stamford Bridge.
“It’s a great signing. I think that in that position, we needed an important player, and I’m sure that there were not many more better options than Morgan. So we are delighted. It means a lot for everyone,” the Spaniard told reporters.
The acquisition is a major statement of intent from Chelsea, who finished 10th in the Premier League last season and missed out on European football.
Alonso will now look to integrate Rogers into an attacking group that already includes Palmer, Pedro Neto, Estevao Willian, and fellow new signing Geovany Quenda.
“I have a plan. I have an idea. I can see them linking really well,” Alonso said of Rogers and Palmer, who are close friends with similar playing styles.
> “You need to have a good mix, good stability players, and players that can play with more freedom. And if we get that balance right, and we get those special players in the right positions, with good control, I think that we will be more competitive with the ball and against the ball.”
Chelsea had reportedly tracked Rogers for two years and edged out Arsenal, who declined to match Villa’s asking price. The fee surpassed the previous British transfer record of £116 million paid by Manchester City for Elliot Anderson earlier this month.
Alonso highlighted Rogers’ versatility, noting that the midfielder can operate in various attacking positions.
“I think that one of his best qualities is that he’s flexible. I think that he can play in that pocket position, close to the striker… but he’s played as well on the right. But I think more coming from the left.
> We will play him where he feels he is enjoying his game, that he feels his flow. I’m sure that he will have good connections with the other players around him.”
Rogers is not on Chelsea’s pre-season trip to Australia after helping England finish third at the World Cup.
Chelsea face Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney on Saturday before travelling to Hong Kong for a match against Juventus on August 5.