Xabi Alonso Urged to Replace Robert Sanchez as Chelsea Goalkeeping Concerns Mount Ahead of Stamford Bridge Tenure

Xabi Alonso is facing immediate pressure over Chelsea‘s goalkeeping situation before he has even taken a single training session at Stamford Bridge, with prominent voices in English football calling for Robert Sanchez to be replaced ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder was officially appointed as Chelsea’s new head coach on a four-year contract, inheriting a squad that endured a turbulent 2025/26 campaign. Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League — missing out on European qualification for the first time in years — a result that underlines the scale of the rebuild Alonso faces upon his arrival in July.

Andy Townsend, who represented Chelsea as a midfielder during his playing career, has been particularly outspoken about the need for a new first-choice goalkeeper. Speaking to BetVictor, Townsend stated: “I think Chelsea need a goalkeeper. Robert Sanchez has produced one or two better performances recently, but I just feel he’s just one of those goalkeepers that will let you down in a big moment. He’s got a mistake in him, there’s a mistake never too far away.”

Townsend elaborated on why he believes Sanchez is ill-suited to the demands of modern football under a manager expected to implement a possession-based, build-from-the-back system. “Those sort of goalkeepers, I’m afraid, with modern day football, the way that goalies are asked to play, I think you’ve got to sort it out if your goalkeeper gives you the jitters. And he does that, I’m afraid,” he added.

Manchester United legends Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have reportedly echoed those concerns, describing Sanchez as a “liability” who may struggle to meet the technical demands Alonso is likely to place on the position. Scholes went further, directly linking the goalkeeping question to Alonso’s anticipated tactical identity: “With the way Chelsea will play, I agree. He can’t do it. I’m pretty sure Xabi Alonso will want to play that way, to build out from the back, so he will need a new goalkeeper then.”

The goalkeeper debate is one of several significant personnel questions surrounding Chelsea’s summer. Enzo Fernández is reportedly keen on departing Stamford Bridge, with the club reportedly placing a £120 million price tag on the Argentine midfielder. Marc Cucurella, Joao Pedro, and Cole Palmer have also been linked with potential exits, suggesting the squad could look considerably different by the time the new Premier League season begins.

Alonso’s appointment represents a high-profile bet by Chelsea’s ownership, given the Spaniard’s reputation as one of European football’s most promising young coaches. His work at Bayer Leverkusen — where he guided the club to a historic unbeaten Bundesliga title in the 2023/24 season — established him as one of the most sought-after managers on the continent before his move to west London.

The question of whether Sanchez fits the goalkeeper profile required for a high-pressing, possession-dominant system is not a new one. Ball-playing goalkeepers have become increasingly central to top-level tactical setups across Europe, and clubs that lack a reliable option in that area have routinely been exposed. Chelsea’s incoming coaching staff will need to make a clear decision on the position before the transfer window closes.

Alonso is expected to be active in the summer market both in terms of incomings and outgoings, with Chelsea’s failure to qualify for European competition potentially complicating their ability to attract top targets.