Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso looks on during Chelsea's pre-season clash with Tottenham(Image: Brendon Thorne)
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Chelsea have listed Dario Essugo as available for a season-long loan deal following the arrivals of Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson.
Essugo signed for the Blues for £18million last summer from Sporting CP but his debut season at Stamford Bridge was heavily disrupted by injury problems. The 21-year-old midfielder made three appearances in last summer's Club World Cup, but was restricted to just over 100 minutes in five matches in the 2025/26 campaign - and none of those were from the start.
With Barco and Henderson adding to Chelsea's midfield depth that already includes Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Enzo Fernandez and Reece James, Alonso, alongside the club's sporting leadership team, has decided Essugo will benefit from a loan spell.
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With no European football available to Chelsea, minutes will be more difficult to come by for the fringe players like Essugo. There are several Premier League clubs, including Hull City, keen on bringing the Portuguese midfielder on loan for the season, while BlueCo-owned Strasbourg is also an option.
Chelsea are able to loan one more player to their sister side, as per FIFA rules, with Genesis Antwi and Filip Jorgensen both at the Stade de la Meinau for the season.
A loan to Strasbourg is also an option available to Mykhailo Mudryk, although sources close to the player say he prefers staying in the Premier League for the season. Chelsea have made the Ukrainian winger, whose return to football was announced last month following more than 18 months out of action after breaching anti-doping regulations, available for loan this season and there are several English sides with a keen interest.
Leeds United saw a loan offer for Mudryk rejected by Chelsea towards the end of last week. Leeds, though, retain an interest in the 25-year-old winger and could make another loan bid before the September 1 deadline.
Mykhailo Mudryk of Chelsea enters the pitch as a substitute during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Chelsea and Juventus at Kai Tak Sports Park on August 05, 2026 in Hong Kong, China
Mykhailo Mudryk could leave Chelsea on loan this summer(Image: Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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Jamie Gittens, meanwhile, is set to stay at Chelsea this season. The 22-year-old left-sided winger impressed in pre-season and Alonso is said to want him as an option for his debut managerial campaign in the Premier League.
Mamadou Sarr and Aaron Anselmino could both leave on loan, although the latter has proven more complicated to strike a deal for after he picked up an injury during the club's pre-season tour. Sarr has admirers from England, as well as abroad. Al-Hilal are interested in signing the Senegal international on a permanent basis, but Chelsea prefer a loan.
Stamford Bridge insiders expect Tosin Adarabioyo to depart the club on a permanent basis before the deadline. The 28-year-old central defender has plenty of interest in his signature, from the likes of Sevilla, Marseille, Benfica and others. Chelsea will sell Tosin for the right price as the Blues look to trim down their centre-back options.
Axel Disasi is set to join Crystal Palace on a season-long loan deal. The Eagles are expected to sign the versatile French defender on a straight loan with no option or obligation to buy next summer.
Liam Delap has plenty of interest from elsewhere, including Everton. The Toffees are understood to be one of numerous Premier League sides to have expressed an admiration of the out-of-favour Chelsea striker. The Blues have set a £50m price tag on Delap, who failed to impress in his debut season at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea striker Liam Delap
Liam Delap could be sold this summer(Image: Qin Zhicheng/VCG)
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Chelsea want £65m for Nicolas Jackson, who also has plenty of teams keeping an eye on his situation over the next week. Aston Villa look to be the current front-runners for the 25-year-old's signature. Unai Emery is keen on a reunion with Jackson, who he managed at Villarreal, and with Ollie Watkins the subject of multiple bids from Al-Hilal, a deal for the Blues striker could accelerate later in the window.
Marc Guiu is expected to depart on a permanent basis, according to Chelsea sources. The Blues are also trying to find a permanent home for outcast David Datro Fofana.
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