Jamie Gittens is ready to prove himself under Xabi Alonso. The Chelsea winger, who joined from Borussia Dortmund for £52m last summer, says he has been told he is part of the new manager's plans for next season and describes Alonso as “one of the best to do it”.
“He just wants me to keep being positive, to keep taking on players, to keep creating chances and to keep pushing myself to the maximum,” Gittens said. The 21-year-old has endured a difficult first season at Stamford Bridge, finishing 10th in the Premier League without a trophy, and missed the back end of the campaign with a hamstring injury suffered in January. But after scoring in Alonso's first two behind-closed-doors friendlies against Crawley and Bromley, and a holiday training camp in Portugal and Spain, he insists he is “90% fit” and “feeling much better”. “I want to succeed here,” he added. “I need to show people what I can do.”
“Gittens says he's '90% fit' and in Alonso's plans; Sunderland's Le Bris says Xhaka deal 'closed'.”
Alonso's squad is taking shape. Record signing Morgan Rogers, a £117m arrival from Aston Villa, is expected to “raise the bar”, according to Gittens, who played alongside him in Manchester City's academy. Rogers, an attacking midfielder, has spoken of his excitement at linking up with close friend Cole Palmer. “We've been speaking about this for a while – that we would always love to play together,” Rogers said. “That's probably the most special thing, playing with one of your best friends.”
But one reunion Alonso had hoped for appears off the cards. Chelsea made an £8m bid this month for Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka, who played under Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, but Sunderland immediately rejected it. Head coach Régis Le Bris was emphatic after a 4-2 pre-season friendly defeat by Liverpool: “No, this topic is closed. He has been really clear about his future. He loves Sunderland, he wants to stay in Sunderland. He wants to make the future of Sunderland. He is a good captain. Great leader.”
With the Xhaka pursuit dead, Alonso must look elsewhere for midfield reinforcements. But Gittens, at least, is ready. “I've shown small glimpses, I would say, but this season will be a good season,” he said. For a club that finished 10th and out of Europe, that may be the most important verdict yet.