Incoming Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso was unable to rule out the possibility of losing three key stars this summer, as he looks ahead to taking charge of the Blues at the end of the Premier League season.
The west London outfit have endured a difficult campaign, with a bright start under Enzo Maresca quickly wiped away with his dismissal, before Liam Rosenior's short stint as boss turned sour.
While many Chelsea fans will want the season over with, holding hope that the arrival of Alonso will bring brighter days ahead, there's still a battle to be had for European football on the final day.
Beyond that, there are question marks over who will stay, who will go, and who will arrive at Stamford Bridge during a pivotal summer transfer window, with the new manager unable to give much insight as things stand.
Xabi Alonso's Chelsea Transfer Response
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With Chelsea missing out on Champions League football, and unrest seemingly surrounding some players in the squad, there are doubts over which players will be kept and who could be sold in the summer.
Among them are Joao Pedro and Marc Cucurella, both of whom have been linked with a move to Barcelona, and Enzo Fernandez, who is rumoured with interest from Real Madrid.
All three were a topic of conversation for Alonso in an interview with El Chiringuito TV in his first public discussion since taking over the job at Chelsea.
When the interviewer suggested that the manager wouldn't want to lose those key players, he simply responded: "Well… this is football, and we’ll make a good team."
It's something of a non-answer, which is telling, and suggests there is uncertainty over which players will be left at Chelsea this summer, and who could move on.
Alonso may have his own judgments too, with time now being taken to see how the squad best fits together to get the best possible results. Whether that means some brutal exits for some key players remains to be seen, but time will tell how the summer will shape up for the club.
Chelsea Financial Impact
Stamford Bridge (Chelsea FC)
Failure to qualify for the Champions League is set to cost Chelsea dearly heading into the summer, with a potential rethink needed about the current transfer strategy.
The Blues have generated roughly £79 million in prize money from the competition this season, making their way to the round of 16 before exiting at the hands of PSG.
Adding the additional revenue of tickets, sponsorship, and hospitality, and there is a likelihood that Chelsea will miss out on over £100 million from not being in the Champions League.
That, along with the need to refresh the squad in key areas, is what could force the club into making some key sales this summer to help generate funds.
Chelsea's Reece James and Chelsea's Marc Cucurella celebrate after the match Related
Every Chelsea Player's Wage [2026]
Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, and Moises Caicedo all feature as every Chelsea player's wages are listed.
This will be particularly important in the Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) era of Premier League finances, which will place a cap on spend based on a percentage of revenues.
If Chelsea can increase their revenues, then they will have more to spend, with the Champions League a clear way to generate extra income over some of their rivals.
It means this summer could be one of restructuring, ensuring that players can be sold to bolster elsewhere, rather than buying before selling later in the market.
Whether it'll be someone like Fernandez, who will have a large amount of amortisation value still on his contract, meaning a huge fee is needed to land any profit, remains to be seen. Either way, the task is monumental, and it'll need to be done right to give Alonso the best chance possible to succeed.