Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho may be forced to ditch plans of bringing Xabi Alonso with him to Chelsea. The Mail on Sunday says Xabi is a favourite of the Real coach but, at 31, he is unlikely to fit Chelsea's criteria for signing younger players with re-sale potential.
Club policy is not to offer more than one-year deals to players over 30 and Xabi would expect a three-year deal at least, meaning Mourinho might have to fall back on alternatives like Alonso's 26-year-old midfield partner at Madrid, Sami Khedira.
Do Chelsea lose out taking the younger Khedira? Give us your shout below...