Chelsea chiefs are expected to undergo another hectic summer window of incomings and outgoings, with many players set to be put on the transfer list by BlueCo and face uncertain futures.
Players expected to leave Chelsea this summer
It is perhaps a given that, barring any U-turns from Enzo Maresca, a plethora of loaned-out senior players in the form of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Alfie Gilchrist, Renato Veiga, Armando Broja, Raheem Sterling, David Datro Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell and Axel Disasi are all but set to quit Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea-Premier-League Related
£60m Premier League forward has spoken to friends about joining Chelsea
He's apparently interested.
BlueCo's mountainous task ahead of June 1 is beginning to find new homes for all the surplus to requirement, out-of-favour members of Chelsea's full to the brim squad list.
Race for Champions League qualification with one game remaining Points
3. Man City 68
4. Newcastle 66
5. Chelsea 66
6. Aston Villa 66
7. Nottingham Forest 65
As things stand, they're all set to return to Chelsea once their temporary spells elsewhere conclude, with the likes of Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell both commanding huge salaries and proving a drain on the club's wage bill.
Chelsea will be especially keen to find new homes for the England international duo, and the same can be said for summer flop Joao Felix.
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The Portuguese returned to west London in 2024 for around £45 million, with Cobham academy graduate Conor Gallagher heading the other way to Atlético Madrid in a separate deal.
However, since that 'sort of' swap deal was agreed, both players' fortunes have contrasted significantly. While Gallagher has gone on to become a mainstay under Diego Simeone, making 46 appearances in all competitions and racking up nine goal contributions, Maresca has already deemed Felix an unwanted man just one season into his stay.
Felix was shipped off on loan to AC Milan in January, failing to impress at the San Siro, with the Rossoneri deciding long ago that they're not interested in keeping the 24-year-old beyond this season (Fabrizio Romano).
Benfica working to re-sign Joao Felix from Chelsea
It seems pretty inevitable that Chelsea will attempt to rid themselves of Felix's £130,000-per-week wages once he returns to Cobham.
This is echoed by Spanish news outlet Estadio Deportivo, and their journalist Manuel Pedrero, who provides an update on Felix's precarious situation.
joao-felix-atletico-madrid
He writes that Felix is aware he'll need to pack his bags and quit Chelsea this summer, and he could have a golden chance to return to his former club. Benfica are said to be working on bringing the attacking midfielder back home, with the Portuguese heavyweights viewed as his most credible next destination as things stand.
In an alternate universe, and one where Aston Villa had the financial capabilities to match his demands, Felix would be working under Unai Emery right now. The ex-Arsenal boss once confirmed that he couldn't quite get him over the line at Villa Park before Chelsea swooped in, but does rate the forward very highly.
“He’s a special player and it was not totally impossible for us (to sign him), but he wanted to play for a team in the Champions League,” Emery said last year.
"We are realistic about how we can improve and how we can add players to improve our squad. He has a high salary and Chelsea paid a lot of money for that.
“I like him, but we were never really in the running for him. He can assist, score goals, drop deep to build up and he can play in the small spaces and drive into the box. He’s special."