Cameron Smith
Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, Chelsea
© IMAGO
Chelsea reportedly have an “unlimited transfer budget” this summer and they therefore have the ability to go on a spending spree in the market before the start of the 2025-26 campaign.
Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens will become the Blues’ sixth and seventh signings of the summer, but their business is unlikely to stop there.
In fact, according to Adam Williams, Chelsea will be able to spend freely this summer, due to very little threat of breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Williams told The Chelsea Chronicle" href="https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/news/chelsea-have-unlimited-transfer-budget-as-uefa-to-issue-landmark-ruling-this-week/" target="_blank">The Chelsea Chronicle: “I think the limit of Chelsea’s ambitions depends on little else than how deep the owners’ pockets are at the moment. In effect, if the owners want to spend, they have an unlimited transfer budget.”
Chelsea will, of course, need to be wary of their spending in order to maintain their PSR position, but they could feasibly splash an inordinate amount of money on new signings this summer.
If they opt to utilise their “unlimited transfer budget” this summer, who could Chelsea sign?
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal is arguably the best player in world football at the moment and he is one of the frontrunners to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or later this year.
Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian is set to join Chelsea after the Club World Cup, but Yamal is a known quantity in Europe and he is the kind of player who could guide the Blues back to Premier League and Champions League glory.
As a result, signing him, and allowing Estevao to develop slowly, would be an immense piece of business, even if Barcelona could feasibly demand that his €1 billion release clause is triggered.
Lamine Yamal, Barcelona
© IMAGO - Lamine Yamal, Barcelona
Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
Chelsea are in need of a quality left winger and a proven centre forward, so why not sign a player who ticks both boxes?
Kylian Mbappe fits that brief perfectly and although he was heavily criticised during his debut campaign at Real Madrid, he still scored 43 goals in 56 games across all competitions.
Mbappe has been linked with Chelsea previously and he would provide Maresca with the dynamism in attack that his system desperately needs.
Erling Haaland (Man City)
If Chelsea want to sign an out-and-out goalscorer and they aren’t limited by money, Erling Haaland is the player they should pursue.
With creativity from Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez, plus the potential signings of Yamal and Mbappe, Haaland would thrive and he would provide Chelsea with a world-class number nine for the first time since Diego Costa left the club.
The Norway international has flirted with a Man City exit ever since his arrival at the Etihad Stadium and although Real Madrid may be a more lucrative destination, Chelsea wouldn’t be bad either.
Erling Haaland, Man City
© IMAGO - Erling Haaland, Man City
Alisson (Liverpool)
Chelsea may be happy to persist with Robert Sanchez as the number one goalkeeper, but they shouldn’t be.
He simply isn’t good enough to guide them to Premier League glory. Alisson, on the other hand, is.
The Brazilian is one of the best shot-stoppers in world football, while his ability in possession would suit Enzo Maresca’s system perfectly. Liverpool could even be open to a sale due to the arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill have the potential to become one of the best centre-back duos in world football, if the former can end his injury issues, but a more proven entity would be a smart addition at Stamford Bridge.
Step forward Virgil van Dijk. The Netherlands international is arguably the best defender on the planet and his experience would do wonders for the development of both Fofana and Colwill.
Plus, he already has an excellent relationship with Alisson and the pair could transform Chelsea into Premier League champions just like they did at Liverpool.
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