Xabi Alonso directly addresses Alejandro Garnacho's future after pre-season training absence

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has directly addressed Alejandro Garnacho’s future after the Argentine failed to report for pre-season training.

Despite arriving at Chelsea from Manchester United for £40 million last summer and signing a seven-year contract, it appears Garnacho is on the move again.

The winger, who produced just one goal and four assists in 24 Premier League appearances in his maiden season at Stamford Bridge, did not join his teammates for pre-season training over the weekend, with the west London club keen to offload him ahead of the September 1 transfer deadline.

Chelsea value the player at around £43 million and would rather see him leave permanently than pursue a loan move, despite interest from Serie A side Roma. Man Utd will also receive 10 per cent of any potential transfer fee.

Premier League and Saudi Arabian clubs are also reportedly interested in signing the 22-year-old.

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If Garnacho were to leave, he would join a growing list of departures since Alonso’s arrival, with academy graduate Tyrique George joining Everton and Marc Cucurella departing for Real Madrid.

Speaking about Garnacho during his first press conference since being appointed, Alonso said: “We have spoken to the sporting director, and there's interest from another club, so let's see how it develops.

“I hope it finishes in the best possible way for all parties.”

Trevoh Chalobah is expected to join either Inter or Como this summer, while Enzo Fernández’s future remains uncertain amid links with Real Madrid.

Alonso also touched on Fernández’s future during his first press conference as Chelsea manager.

"Yes, we have spoken,” he told reporters. "But as you can imagine, what we have spoken about remains private. But yes, we have spoken."

When pressed on whether he wants Fernández to stay at Chelsea, Alonso added: “Yes.”

Full-back Marco Palestra and winger Geovany Quenda have already signed from Atalanta and Sporting CP respectively during the summer window.

Alonso outlines why he is manager and not head coach at Chelsea

As is the case in modern football, most clubs now appoint head coaches rather than the more traditional role of manager. However, Chelsea opted to give Alonso the latter title when he arrived earlier this summer.

During his press conference, Alonso explained what this actually means.

"It means we are working together to take the right decisions on squad planning, on a daily basis, and in training,” he said. “I am involved in that. But how we want to prepare the squad, which players and which positions are needed, is the work that we are doing together with the sporting directors. And we are aligned. We have set our priorities for what we want to do. And this is the world that we are in.”