A look at the latest transfer business being conducted by Chelsea - and the players they could still sign and sell.
If there’s one thing we can be assured of in the summer transfer window, it’s that Chelsea will make a splash. They’ve already made the single biggest deal of the year to date by signing Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers for a fee which could rise to £117m, and they’re not done yet.
Rogers is now the club’s most expensive signing of all time while Marco Palestra was bought from Atalanta in a deal worth an estimated £48.5m – the first part of an expensive defensive rebuild designed to bring the squad in line with new head coach Xabi Alonso’s requirements. On top of that, the club are looking to raise hundreds of millions by selling players currently on the books.
With a busy summer of wheeling and dealing ahead for one of the Premier League’s most free-spending sides, we’re looking at the current state of play for the Blues in the transfer window.
Lacroix among key targets in defensive overhaul
Maxence Lacroix is Chelsea's main defensive target - but they may not wish to meet Crystal Palace's valuationplaceholder image
Maxence Lacroix is Chelsea's main defensive target - but they may not wish to meet Crystal Palace's valuation | Getty Images
Palestra’s arrival is expected to be one of at least three defensive signings this summer, with four new arrivals a distinct possibility depending on how successful the club are at selling unwanted players currently on the books.
The primary target is Crystal Palace and France defender Maxence Lacroix. The centre-back, who was clocked as the fastest defender in the Premier League last season, is coming off the back of an excellent season and Chelsea hope to sign him for a fee which could easily exceed £50m.
Success is far from guaranteed, however. Palace would prefer to keep Lacroix and seldom let their best players leave without a fight, as suitors for players like Marc Guéhi have discovered in recent years.
Should they fail to land Lacroix, then young Como centre-half Jacobo Ramón is an option, while the club are reportedly considering a move for free agent John Stones off the back of an impressive World Cup campaign. They aren’t the only club keen on Stones, by any means, however.
At left-back, Chelsea are hoping to replace the departed Marc Cucurella with Rayo Vallecano’s Pep Chavarría. Negotiations are underway, although progress has been slow with the BBC reporting that Rayo are pushing to earn the entirety of the 28-year-old’s €50m release clause from the deal. Chelsea hope to agree a slightly lesser fee.
Alex Scott bid rejected as Chelsea make moves
An opening bid for Alex Scott has been rejected out of hand by Bournemouthplaceholder image
An opening bid for Alex Scott has been rejected out of hand by Bournemouth | Getty Images
On Wednesday morning, it was reported that Chelsea had made an initial bid for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott – but their £64m offer was turned down, with the Cherries likely to hold out for at least £80m if possible.
If Chelsea are prepared to up their offer then they stand a strong chance of signing the 22-year-old. Scott has just two years left on his contract at Dean Court and has rejected the offer of a new deal. While Bournemouth would prefer not to lose him, they may be realistic enough about the situation to accept a sufficiently colossal fee.
Manchester United could provide a rival in the race for Scott. He is one of several players on their shortlist as they work to sign a third new midfielder, and they may enter the race depending on how well the eventual asking price lines up with their valuation.
Should Chelsea fail to land Scott, it’s not yet clear who their back-up plan might be. They have given up on persuading Sunderland to sell Granit Xhaka to them. Valentín Barco, who rejuvenated his career as a midfielder after struggling at Brighton & Hove Albion, is expected to join from Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg.
Who could leave Chelsea this summer?
Aston Villa are in negotiations to sign Alejandro Garnachoplaceholder image
Aston Villa are in negotiations to sign Alejandro Garnacho | Getty Images
Given that Chelsea have spent years sailing close to the wind with UEFA’s spending rules – the sale of the women’s team to a holding company owned by BlueCo got around the Premier League’s regulations but not those of the European governing body – the Blues are going to have to sell several players in order to raise the funds necessary to service their renewed spending.
Nicolas Jackson, who has returned from a loan spell at Bayern Munich, could be among the biggest sales. Chelsea have set an optimistic price tag of £65m, according to The Athletic, but may be forced to settle for less. Aston Villa are among the clubs considering a bid.
Villa have also entered negotiations over a deal for unwanted winger Alejandro Garnacho. Chelsea value the Argentine at over £40m, while Villa want to sign him on an initial loan deal. The club are also willing to hear offers for Liam Delap and Marc Guiu, but no teams have made any moves for either player as yet.
Chelsea are also keen to sell Malo Gusto and want £75m for him, but the only side to have registered an interest as yet – Manchester City – are unwilling to fork out such a sizeable sum. As it stands, the Frenchman looks more likely to stay put than to leave unless the asking price is reduced.
Another player that could stay put is midfielder Enzo Fernández. The chances of a move to Real Madrid, which the player has publicly expressed interest in, look thin after the Spanish side went public with their decision not to make a move at his current £125m asking price. Chelsea will still listen to any offers that arise, but few sides have the resources to make a compelling offer.
Trevoh Chalobah appears likely to sign for Serie A side Como in a deal worth approximately £35m, while Benoît Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Tosin Adarabioyo are all available for sale, with finding new homes for the first two considered a priority. Adarabioyo will be sold if enough new signings can be made. Aaron Anselmino could leave but a final decision has not yet been made, while the club want to find a club to take Mamadou Sarr on loan.