Chelsea have been busy in the transfer market this summer, but there is still plenty of work to do if they're to enjoy a dream end to the window
11:02, 29 Jul 2026
It's been another predictably frantic summer at Chelsea, where the squad is being reshaped in the image of new manager Xabi Alonso. A new tactical identity is taking shape at Stamford Bridge, but just as importantly, so too is an overdue injection of leadership and experience - qualities the club's owners have too often overlooked during their tenure.
A couple of eye-catching deals have already been wrapped up, none bigger than the club-record £117million arrival of Morgan Rogers earlier this month, despite widespread expectations the midfielder would end up at Arsenal. Chelsea have also snapped up Italian wing-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta in a £43m deal, a signing that hints Alonso could be preparing to ditch a back four in favour of a three-man defence.
Even so, Chelsea's summer business is far from finished. More reinforcements are needed in key areas, several fringe players still need to be shown the door, and there are one or two prized assets the club simply cannot afford to lose. With that in mind, here's what the perfect end to the transfer window would look like for the Blues.
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Get Lacroix over the line
First things first, Chelsea need to wrap up the £52m signing of Maxence Lacroix. The Crystal Palace defender has been their top target at centre-back all summer and would provide much-needed steel and experience to their backline.
It's understood a deal has been agreed with Palace, with Lacroix undergoing a medical earlier this week. The Frenchman, who featured at the World Cup, has been one of the Premier League's standout defenders since moving to Selhurst Park from Wolfsburg in 2024.
Adding Lacroix to the fold gives Alonso the ideal physical specimen to command a back three alongside Levi Colwill. The 26-year-old is equally comfortable in a back four too, giving Chelsea valuable tactical flexibility depending on the opposition.
Secure Welbeck and Henderson
In a squad heavily weighted toward youthful potential, bringing in veteran figures like Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson - two players the club are now expected to sign - provides instant authority. Their wealth of Premier League and international experience is precisely what Chelsea's dressing room has lacked during high-pressure moments.
Welbeck would offer Alonso a reliable, tactically versatile option upfront who understands the demands of top-flight English football inside out. Meanwhile, Henderson's relentless standards and vocal leadership would serve as a vital blueprint for the club's younger midfielders.
Securing both stalwarts on short-term deals would cost a fraction of Chelsea's usual spending while delivering massive off-pitch returns. Crucially, it would also show that the club's owners are capable to recognising shortcomings and blind spots in their project - a criticism that has followed them throughout their tenure, given their often unwavering commitment to a youth-first approach.
Sign a left wing-back
Having sold Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid, securing a starting-calibre left wing-back remains a crucial piece in Alonso's tactical jigsaw. Rayo Vallecano's Pep Chavarria has emerged as the primary target, having impressed in La Liga with his tireless energy and defensive tenacity.
However, Vallecano are playing hardball over his valuation - demanding Chelsea pay the player's £42.4m release clause in full, forcing the Blues to keep alternative options on standby should negotiations collapse. Whether it is Chavarria or a backup target, Alonso urgently needs a player capable of providing relentless width and high-quality deliveries into the box and the final third.
Completing this signing would allow the Blues to seamlessly transition into Alonso's preferred 3-4-2-1 system with natural symmetry on both wings - having already signed Palestra.
£70m Alex Scott deal
Chelsea have reportedly already tested Bournemouth's resolve with an opening £64m bid for Alex Scott, but pushing that offer closer to £70m could seal the deal. The England international has developed into one of the league's most dynamic central midfielders, combining press-resistance with exceptional ball progression.
With Andrey Santos gone and Romeo Lavia continuing to struggle with persistent injury setbacks, Chelsea cannot afford to go through the autumn shorthanded in the engine room. Scott's ability to drive forward and dictate tempo would inject much-needed vitality into Alonso's midfield.
With Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez playing behind Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, Chelsea's midfield is star-studded, but lacks genuine strength in depth. Signing Scott would not only provide that but would also send a clear message about the club's ambition, particularly if they fend off interest from rival Premier League suitors for his signature.
Sign wonderkid winger
To round out their attacking options, Chelsea are eyeing a move for Bayer Leverkusen's teenage sensation Kerim Alajbegovic. Alonso will be well aware of the 18-year-old winger from his time in Germany, having monitored his rapid rise through the club's youth setup.
With Alejandro Garnacho sealing a loan move to Aston Villa, bringing in Alajbegovic would ensure Chelsea maintain lethal depth on the flanks. The Bosnian international possesses explosive speed and flair, making him an ideal project player to develop alongside the likes of Jamie Gittens, Geovany Quenda and Estevao.
Prying such a high-potential talent away from Leverkusen won't be easy, but it's understood the teenager could be snagged for around £30m. And given his ceiling, that could end up being a bargain.
Keep Enzo Fernandez
Keeping hold of Enzo Fernandez remains arguably the most critical objective for the Blues before the window shuts. Speculation surrounding his future has grown with the midfielder subtly - and not so subtly - pushing for an exit, but losing a player of his calibre would be a monumental blow.
Alonso must sit down with the Argentinian once he returns from his post-World Cup break and convince him that Stamford Bridge remains the best place for his career. Since joining from Benfica in a then-British record £105m deal in 2023, he has been one of Chelsea's most influential players. But after three-and-a-half years without the club establishing itself as a genuine title contender, it's understandable that the 25-year-old has started to consider his options.
Chelsea still hold a strong hand. Fernandez is under contract until 2032, while the club's £120m valuation is likely to deter all but the wealthiest suitors. Real Madrid, previously viewed as the most credible destination, have also cooled their interest in recent weeks.
Even so, Alonso cannot afford to let uncertainty linger. Reaffirming Fernandez's belief in the project - and ensuring his focus is firmly on Chelsea rather than a possible exit - should be one of the new manager's highest priorities.
Shift deadwood
Incoming transfers must be balanced by outgoing sales, and Chelsea urgently need to streamline their bloated squad before the deadline. They've made a solid start by cashing in on Cucurella, Santos and Tyrique George for sizeable fees, while also loaning Garnacho to Aston Villa, but there is still plenty of work to do.
The arrival of Welbeck will leave Chelsea overloaded in the striker department. Joao Pedro looks set to begin the campaign as Alonso's first-choice No. 9, leaving Welbeck, Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson and new arrival Emmanuel Emegha - signed from Strasbourg last year - competing for a backup spot.
With Emegha expected to head out on loan, one of Delap or Jackson should make way permanently. Jackson would likely command the bigger transfer fee after a productive loan spell at Bayern Munich last season, but given Delap's disappointing first year at Stamford Bridge, cutting ties with the Englishman may be the more sensible decision.
Chelsea's defensive ranks also need thinning. Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana and Axel Disasi all face uncertain futures, and moving at least two of them on would reduce the wage bill, generate valuable transfer funds and leave Alonso with a leaner, more balanced squad capable of competing on every front.
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