Alonso to offer glimpse of future in pre-season tour

[Getty Images] Chelsea's pre-season tour of Australia and Asia will give new manager Xabi Alonso the chance to better understand his squad, while allowing the players to get to know him. Now into the second week of his tenure, the 44-year-old Spaniard has already worked with a sizeable group at Cobham. However, he has yet to see those involved in this summer's World Cup and will benefit from spending more time with the full squad. There are also plenty of unanswered questions - not just for fans and the media, but for the players themselves. Some, such as Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro, know they are 'untouchable' and are expected to play major roles. Others, including goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, remain involved but are planning to leave, either permanently or on loan. However, a large number remain uncertain about their futures as Chelsea continue efforts to reduce a squad that is approaching 40 players. That task has become even more pressing with the anticipated arrival of Morgan Rogers, who is is set to join Emmanuel Emegha, Geovany Quenda and Marco Palestra as the latest summer signing. The Blues also need to continue generating sales, with midfielder Valentin Barco set to join partner club Strasbourg. Chelsea are also pursuing a new centre-back, with Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix among the targets, and a new full-back amid talks for Rayo Vallecano's Pep Chavarria. For some players, it is a case of impress or leave. The tour may also provide clues as to whether Alonso will favour the back-three system he used at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the Bundesliga title, or a back four, which he used more frequently during his brief spell at Real Madrid. Much remains unclear after Alonso's first news conference last week, but the tour will give reporters a closer look at Chelsea while offering supporters a glimpse of what to expect on the pitch.