By Rune Gjerulff@runegjerulff

Xabi Alonso interested in bringing Bayer Leverkusen talent to Chelsea

Xabi Alonso could look to sign a player from his former club, with The Athletic reporting that Chelsea are interested in Bayer Leverkusen's Kerim Alajbegović.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Chelsea are interested in Bayer Leverkusen’s Kerim Alajbegović, according to The Athletic.

The report claims that the 18-year-old is among the attacking options being monitored by Chelsea under former Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, but adds that any additions in this area of the pitch depend on player sales.

Alajbegović has previously been linked with a move to Serie A, with Atalanta considered the main contenders, but Leverkusen could command a higher fee from a Premier League side.

The 18-year-old was sold to RB Salzburg last summer, but Leverkusen later decided to bring him back for a fee of €8 million.

He became the eighth-youngest player to score at a World Cup with his goal in Bosnia and Herzegovina's 3-1 victory over Qatar.

Alajbegović was coming through Leverkusen’s academy when Alonso was at the helm between October 2022 and May 2025.