Xabi Alonso has held private talks with Estevao Willian amid speculation that Chelsea’s Brazilian boy wonder is concerned with his lack of opportunities and new manager’s vision for him.After Premier League games against Fulham, Brighton and Arsenal, Estevao has only received 16 minutes in total via two substitute appearances. He came close to equalising late in their 2-1 loss at the Emirates Stadium but was denied by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.According to reports in Brazil, Estevao is worried about his future within Chelsea. It is said the 19-year-old prefers playing centrally, though Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers appear to be locked in behind Joao Pedro in the Blues’ front three. That could leave him competing with Pedro Neto and others to be used as a right-wing back if Alonso persists with his 3-4-2-1 set-up, but it has also been claimed Estevao is not enthralled with the idea of playing in that position.When asked about Estevao and whether he has expressed unhappiness, Alonso said: ‘Private conversations, they should remain private. But the season is going to be long.‘The players have the desire and the hunger to prove and to show every day that they are up for the challenge. It’s what we want to create here in the building. Este is part of it. So he has had a very good attitude, very good mentality to prepare every game and to be ready for the team.’ After Premier League games against Fulham, Brighton and Arsenal, Estevao has only received 16 minutes in total via two substitute appearances ALONSO RULES OUT FREEBIES Chelsea have studied the free-agent market for a possible solution to their midfield problem – but Xabi Alonso says they will not be proceeding with bringing anyone in on a freebie.Renato Sanches, the 29-year-old recently released by Paris Saint-Germain, and Yves Bissouma, the 30-year-old who was last with Tottenham Hotspur, are among those currently without a club.Chelsea have been missing the influence of injured Moises Caicedo this season with their main midfield protector yet to start a match. They also sold Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City and were unable to use any of his £125million fee as a deal to sign Lamine Camara collapsed when Monaco changed their minds as the 11pm deadline approached.As a consequence, Chelsea finished their last outing at Arsenal with two right backs in Reece James and Malo Gusto manning their midfield. Alonso’s side were trailing 2-1 when Gusto replaced Romeo Lavia, who has yet to complete a competitive full 90 for the club he joined in 2023.In contrast, Mikel Arteta was able to introduce Martin Zubimendi for Myles Lewis-Skelly to partner Declan Rice as Arsenal also left Bruno Guimaraes unused on their substitutes’ bench.Caicedo has returned to training after a calf issue, though he will not be risked in their Carabao Cup clash with Leeds tonight. Alonso has admitted they rushed him back too soon against Brighton last week as he lasted only 11 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.It was a recurrence of the same injury which saw him miss the start of the season, and it is too soon to tell whether he will be available for the Premier League visit of Hull this weekend. ‘I wanted to have Moi,’ Alonso said. ‘Probably it was my mistake to push him too early, so that’s why I’m cautious now not to make the same mistake.’As well as Sanches and Bissouma, there are others such as Paul Pogba, Marcelo Brozovic and Tanguy Ndombele in search of new homes. When asked whether they would be signing a free agent, Alonso said: ‘We have looked. But no.’KIERAN GILL <!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/sport/football/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – ->
Estevao could be handed a starting place as Leeds visit Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, with Alonso hinting it is on his players to prove why they deserve game time.‘Este is ready,’ Alonso added. ‘He’s training well. He’s fully involved and with a very good attitude every day. He’s in that process to adapt and to learn quick, and the season is going to be long.’Meanwhile, Marco Palestra and Moises Caicedo will not be available for the visit of Leeds as they are still overcoming injury issues. ‘No, not yet, still not ready to go,’ Alonso said. ‘It is not the moment to take too early of a risk. We go game by game with them and it’s too early.’Specifically on Palestra, their summer signing who impressed in pre-season before his setback, Alonso said: ‘He came with huge energy, a huge desire to enjoy his game in the Premier League. He had a very good pre-season and a few days before the first game against Fulham, he picked up an injury. But it’s part of the life of a football player to come back from injury. He has great potential and he will add a lot of good qualities that we need for the team.’Both Jordan Henderson and Emmanuel Emegha are still sidelined, but Levi Colwill is fit to face Leeds after going unused against Arsenal due to a minor injury.