Chelsea are set to have a frantic end to the summer transfer window, with plenty of arrivals and exits before September 1st
Chelsea’s latest transformation is well underway, with new manager Xabi Alonso now in the driving seat and looking to return the Blues to the Champions League after a dire 2025/26 campaign saw the club miss out on European competition all together. It’s been a busy summer so far, with the Blues travelling to both Australia and Asia during their pre-season tour.
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Having successfully navigated a host of sub-par pitches without any major injury concerns, thoughts are now turning to the new Premier League season. The Blues have a relatively straight-forward opening set of fixtures, with a tricky trip to face Arsenal offset by more comfortable contests against the likes of Hull City, Fulham and Brentford.
Off the field, it’s been a busy summer window for the Blues, who’ve finally realised signing almost exclusively raw talent is no way to compete in the Premier League. More experienced players have arrived in recent weeks in the form of veterans Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck, who will bring some desperately needed leadership to the young squad.
Meanwhile, £117m blockbuster signing Morgan Rogers has been brought in to freshen up the attack, while 26-year-old centre-back Maxence Lacroix is in to shore up the defence, alongside Serie A gem Marco Palestra. A smattering of less proven talent such as Valentin Barco and Geovany Quenda have also joined, while the signing of seasoned La Liga left-back Pep Chevarria is all but done.
Plenty of outgoings are now expected, as the Blues look to trim off the deadwood and operate with a more streamlined side going forward. New signings are still expected, however, with central midfield and defence likely to be the areas where Chelsea look to buy. Here are six top signings the Blues could make before the summer transfer window closes on September 1st.
The top signings Chelsea could still make this summer - Scott to Zubimendi:
Bournemouth's Alex Scott is believed to be Chelsea's top midfield targetplaceholder image
Bournemouth's Alex Scott is believed to be Chelsea's top midfield target | Getty Images
Alex Scott - Bournemouth: Enzo Fernandez is due back from his post-World Cup summer holiday this week, and will sit down to discuss his future with Alonso. Man City are likely to make a move for him should Rodri join Barcelona, while a bid from Real Madrid can’t be ruled out. Should he go, the Blues could well look to make another attempt to sign Scott.
The Blues saw a £64m bid for the England U21 international rejected by the Cherries earlier this summer, with the south coast side adamant they won’t sell in this window. However, with the player thought to be eager to move to west London, you wouldn’t bet against Chelsea upping their offer and getting a deal done on Deadline Day - if Fernandez leaves.
Giorgio Scalvini - Atalanta: Chelsea are looking to get rid of a host of their centre-backs, having stockpiled a collection of costly flops over the past few years. Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile, who joined from Monaco for a combined fee of £72m, are set to be shown the exit door, along with Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah, the latter of whom is heading to Como.
The Blues are expected to bring in one replacement, and that could potentially be Scalvini, who has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in recent weeks. His injury record is a real concern, however, with the Italy international missing months of action in the past with serious ACL and shoulder injuries. Before that, he was one the most promising centre-back talents in European football.
Martin Zubimendi - Arsenal: Another candidate who could come in if Fernandez goes, the Arsenal midfielder will likely struggle for game time this season, after the Gunners signed Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United. Alonso is said to be a big fan of Zubimendi, who would likely cost close to £80m.
There’s rival interest from Real Madrid, who could potentially look to snap up Zubimedi as a cheaper alternative to Fernandez, having already blown well over £100m to sign teenage talent Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig. You would imagine that the Gunners would be more inclined to sell to Real, rather than a divisional and local rival in Chelsea.
The top signings Chelsea could still make this summer - Wharton to Murillo:
Nottingham Forest's Murillo has emerged as a top Premier League defenderplaceholder image
Nottingham Forest's Murillo has emerged as a top Premier League defender | Getty Images
Adam Wharton - Crystal Palace: Should Chelsea fail to sign Scott and see Zubimendi head to the Bernabeu, then they could well look to accelerate a move for long-term target Wharton. The four-cap England international is believed to be highly admired by the Blues hierarchy, boasting exceptional technical skills which are ideal for the Premier League.
He’d likely command a hefty price, however, with Palace certain to point to the big-money fee the Blues paid for Rogers and request a similar pay-out. That said, should Fernandez go, the required cash could be freed up to make a move for Wharton. He’s also got serious interest from Manchester United, however, who are expected to sign a third midfielder before the window shuts.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo - Lille: Chelsea are well stocked in wide areas, but Manchester City’s interest in Pedro Neto may change things. Fernandez-Pardo, who made three appearances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Belgium, has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and Chelsea.
However, he could instead look to stay in Europe, with Atletico Madrid believed to be pushing on with their attempts to sign him. Given that the Blues aren’t prioritising signing a winger at the moment, they will likely miss out on the 21-year-old, but should circumstances dictate they need a new winger, they could swoop in if he’s still available.
Murillo - Nottingham Forest: A more left field shout, but the links have been there for some time. The powerhouse defender is thought to be on Chelsea’s long-term transfer shortlist, having adapted to the rigours of Premier League football superbly since joining the Tricky Trees from Corinthians back in 2023.
He only signed a contract extension back in May, but we’ve seen plenty of cases where players have done this only to move on mere months later, with their club securing a chunkier fee thanks to the run-time of their deal. Arsenal are also said to have an eye on the Brazil international, as they look to find a replacement for the injured William Saliba.
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