Chelsea reject approaches for defender deemed 'untouchable' by Xabi Alonso

Chelsea have turned down multiple offers for 20-year-old Josh Acheampong as the club moves to secure the long-term future of the academy graduate. The defender has emerged as an important part of the project at Stamford Bridge and has been given an untouchable tag by head coach Xabi Alonso, who sees him as a non-negotiable piece of his tactical plan.

Interest has come from across Europe and the Premier League, with heavy attention from clubs including Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid. Chelsea also rebuffed approaches from within England, and Arsenal, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace are understood to be monitoring the situation, while Bournemouth have maintained interest since last summer.

Acheampong, an England Under-21 international, made 17 Premier League appearances this season, nine of them from the bench, and remains under contract until 2029, giving Chelsea significant leverage.

England

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