According to a report by Football London on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Chelsea have been urged to prioritise Brighton midfielder Chema Andres over Yasin Ayari as head coach Xabi Alonso prepares to strengthen his squad ahead of the January transfer window.

The Blues have reportedly joined Galatasaray in the race to sign Ayari, whose contract situation at Brighton has attracted interest from several potential suitors.

The Sweden international has played an important role in Fabian Hurzeler's side this season. Brighton have scored 23 Premier League goals, six more than Chelsea, while Ayari has contributed two goals.

His contract is due to expire next summer, although Brighton have the option to extend it by another year. Negotiations over a long-term extension are reportedly ongoing but have stalled, potentially opening the door for Chelsea to make a move.

However, the report suggests Chelsea should prioritise strengthening their central midfield rather than signing another attacking player.

Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro and Estevao Willian can all operate in advanced positions within Alonso's 3-4-2-1 formation, giving the club several options in attack.

Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott has also been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, while Andres has emerged as another potential target for the Blues.

The 21-year-old Spaniard joined Brighton from Stuttgart this summer and could provide the defensive qualities Chelsea need alongside Moises Caicedo.

Standing at 6ft 4in, Andres offers an imposing physical presence in midfield and the ability to protect the defence. His playing style has also drawn comparisons with former Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic.

Premier League statistics cited by Sofascore show that Andres has averaged 1.8 tackles and 0.8 interceptions per 90 minutes this season, compared with Ayari's 0.5 tackles and 0.3 interceptions. Andres has also won 2.3 ground duels per game, while Ayari has averaged 1.8.

Despite his defensive strengths, Andres has contributed one goal and one assist, suggesting he could also offer an attacking threat while providing greater protection for Chelsea's backline.

His previous relationship with Alonso could further strengthen Chelsea's interest in signing him. Andres joined Real Madrid's academy in 2018 at the age of 13, where Alonso coached him at Under-14 level.

Speaking to AS, Andres recalled Alonso's impressive passing ability during their training sessions.

“When training sessions finished, he would stay behind practising passes to the goalkeepers or long balls that went straight to their feet; it was spectacular,” Andres said.

“He would have us practise with him, but of course, there was no comparison between his passes and ours.”