Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
With Chelsea announcing deals for Danny Welbeck and Valentin Barco, and more arrivals expected in the next few days, the Blues will have to sell a whole host of players to balance the books.
Welbeck was announced on Friday before Barco’s long-awaited confirmation emerged on Sunday. After that, Jordan Henderson is set to join, while there has been a breakthrough in talks for Pep Chavarria.
Reports from Portugal even say Chelsea are in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Diogo Costa from Porto. This summer, Chelsea have completed nine signings, and spending has eclipsed the £300m mark already.
Plenty then need to be sold to cover their expenditure. Xabi Alonso has already made it clear he would like four or five centre-backs, with 10 available to him after Maxence Lacroix arrived in West London.
Below, we look at Chelsea’s current senior squad and share which players could still be sold by BlueCo in the coming four weeks. The deadline for the Premier League’s window is on September 1, at 11pm.
Every player that could be sold by Chelsea before the deadline
Filip Jorgensen – The Danish goalkeeper has handed in a transfer request. With Mike Penders returning, Jorgensen is now third choice, and Strasbourg seems like a real possibility for Jorgensen this summer.
Filip Jorgensen of Chelsea
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Gabriel Slonina – Slonina is the perfect example for BlueCo’s poor handling of the transfer market. A £10m outlay, four years at Chelsea, not a single appearance. He is currently training with Strasbourg.
Possible loans: Ted Curd is almost certainly set to leave the club on loan after going on tour in Australia. Teddy Sharman-Lowe remains an uncertainty; he may remain as Chelsea’s third-choice goalkeeper.
Malo Gusto – Gusto is yet to return for pre-season training. But Man City and Enzo Maresca are interested in Gusto, with a £75m price tag on his head. There could be a world where a compromise is met.
Mamadou Sarr – Alonso’s comments about needing four or five centre-backs have plunged the future of a few central defenders into doubt. Sarr might go on loan, but he could be available for a sale, too.
Trevoh Chalobah – One of the certainties to be sold. England star Chalobah is due to join Como in the next week, with a fee believed to be in the region of £26m and add-ons agreed with Cesc Fabregas’s side.
Benoit Badiashile – Like Chalobah, another certainty to depart. The Frenchman is expected to complete a loan-to-buy move to Napoli, which sees Chelsea receive the best part of £20m for the ex-Monaco man.
Wesley Fofana – Fofana is a tricky one. Earlier in the summer, his representatives had spoken to Barcelona about a move. It all depends on whether Fofana is happy to play back-up to Levi Colwill and Lacroix.
Tosin Adarabioyo – Reports suggest Alonso wants Tosin to remain for his leadership. Like Fofana, it all hinges on whether Tosin is happy as cover, or would prefer to join a new club where he is first choice.
Tosin Adarabioyo of Chelsea
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Josh Acheampong– One of Chelsea’s seven untouchables going this summer, Acheampong is not going to start. He may seek an exit. An uninspiring display against WSW won’t have done him any favours.
Possible loans: As mentioned, Badiashile will initially go on loan with an option. Sarr remains young and is more likely to be loaned than sold. Aaron Anselmino may also be sent out on loan for a third time.
Enzo Fernandez remains a possible departure, but with a few weeks left in the window, all talk of the Argentine’s exit has died down. At this moment in time, it feels likely Fernandez will remain at Chelsea.
Midfielders/Wingers
Pedro Neto – Man City are preparing a £70m bid for Neto and while he remains Chelsea’s most-senior wide man, if the Blues do receive a £70m bid for his services, then they simply have to offload him.
Omari Kellyman – It was telling that Alonso brought him on at half-time against WSW, only to take him off 17 minutes later. Kellyman was bought for £19m but it does feel like his time at Chelsea is over.
Romeo Lavia – Lavia was the subject of a £25m bid from Monaco earlier this summer. With Henderson and Barco set to be on board, it feels like Lavia’s time at Chelsea is drawing to a close. A loan is possible.
Possible loans: As stated, Lavia could be sent on loan, perhaps including an option. Kellyman remains young, and another loan is likely, while Dario Essugo and Mykhailo Mudryk need game time next term.
Liam Delap – The signing of Welbeck will have infuriated Delap, at least behind closed doors. There is plenty of interest in Delap. It feels best, even if he wants to stay, to sell Delap for the good of his career.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Chelsea FC: Sydney Super Cup
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Nicolas Jackson – Aston Villa continue to pursue a permanent deal for Jackson, with a loan unavailable. Other clubs have been linked. This one hinges on what Alonso plans to do with the Senegal striker.
Marc Guiu – Like every other striker below Joao Pedro in the pecking order, the signing of Welbeck only pushes them down the food chain. Guiu has no chance of making it at Chelsea and a sale is required.
Emmanuel Emegha – He has only joined this summer, but Fabrizio Romano claims Emegha could be sold. Already, he is either third or fourth choice. Obviously, that will not do for the former Strasbourg man.
Possible loans: Jackson cannot go on loan to Villa, but he could go on loan elsewhere. Guiu’s £25m price tag will put off suitors and a loan is also likely. Emegha surely won’t be sold, so a loan makes sense, too.