While Barcelona search for a complete striker with the qualities of a world-class star, the solution was in their hands last summer but they let it slip away.

Chelsea are facing a similar issue to one that plagued Alonso’s first few weeks in Germany.

Barcelona explored a move for the Brazilian last summer, but Chelsea acted to secure a striker now thriving under Alonso.

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has said he believes the close friendship between Cole Palmer and summer signing Morgan Rogers is helping accelerate their blossoming on-field partnership.

Xabi Alonso’s first trophy in football was courtesy of Mikel Arteta. The pair were about 11 years old when they reached a cup final with Antiguoko, their amateur youth team, and the match went to a penalty shoot-out.

Joao Pedro, Reece James and Moises Caicedo missed Chelsea training ahead of the Premier League game against Brentford at the GTech Community Stadium.

In the absence of Moises Caicedo, who's nursing a knock, and Enzo Fernandez, who's no longer at Chelsea, Xabi Alonso has seemingly entrusted Levi Colwill with vice-captaincy.

Only Brighton's dismantling of subpar opponents has generated more goals than Chelsea's attacking firepower – but there's a catch