Chelsea have a lot of work to do before the summer transfer window slams shut at 11pm on Tuesday, September 1.
Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea arrives at the stadium before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Fulham and Chelsea FC at Craven Cottage on August 24, 2026 in London, England
Enzo Fernandez faces an uncertain future at Chelsea(Image: Photo by Chris Lee- Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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The Chelsea sporting leadership team are in a race against time to wrap up any remaining business before the transfer window slams shut. So far this summer, the Blues have invested £230m into Xabi Alonso's squad and recouped almost £160m in player sales, but there's still plenty of work to be done in the coming hours.
Shortly after walking through the doors at Cobham training ground back in July, the Chelsea manager claimed that he and the sporting leadership team would explore every market opportunity up until the final day of the transfer window. Before embarking on the pre-season tour of Australia and Asia, Alonso told reporters: "We have to be ready.
"The market is open for a few weeks. We need to be aware of different positions, different situations, so for sure, we have a plan, an idea, and we need to assess in the right moments. We can’t say what’s going to happen, but some things might happen.
"We need to know that probably there will still be some movements. We need to be flexible and quick to act. The main thing is that we have a clear idea, a clear plan that we have built. Probably it will change until the last day of the market being open.
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"We want to build a competitive team. We are in that process. We have great quality, great talent, and we need to know what it takes to compete in the Premier League. We want a squad with the right balance between quality and mentality."
So, with just hours left of the transfer window, football.london has looked at what the best and worst-case scenarios are for Chelsea on deadline day.
Fernandez sale funds Chelsea spree
In an ideal world, Chelsea manage to offload Enzo Fernandez for at least £120m, which they quoted potential suitors earlier this month, and reinvest the proceeds in the signings of Alex Scott from Bournemouth and Lamine Camara from Monaco.
With Moises Caicedo currently nursing an injury, the Blues shouldn't cash in on the Argentina international unless they can guarantee a couple of new faces will walk through the door at Stamford Bridge ahead of Tuesday night's deadline.
Alex Scott of Bournemouth
Alex Scott has been linked with a move to Chelsea(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
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If the stars were to align in the final hours of the transfer window, Chelsea should also offload Robert Sanchez, who's fallen out of favour following the signing of Emi Martinez from Aston Villa. Although the Blues have already trimmed much of the fat off the squad, there's still a lot of work to be done.
Marc Guiu, Tosin Adarabioyo, David Datro Fofana, and Gabriel Slonina need to find new homes, while Mykhailo Mudryk and Dario Essugo should spend the season on loan at a Premier League club. If Chelsea can wrap up a deal for Honest Ahanor, he, too, should be shipped out to an English top-flight club.
To be sold: Enzo Fernandez, Robert Sanchez, Marc Guiu, Tosin Adarabioyo, David Datro Fofana, and Gabriel Slonina.
To be loaned: Mykhailo Mudryk, Honest Ahanor, and Dario Essugo.
To be signed: Alex Scott, Lamine Camara, and Honest Ahanor.
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Fernandez stays and tests Chelsea resolve
In a not-so-ideal world, Fernandez throws his toys out of the pram when Chelsea fail to sanction a transfer to Manchester City. Although the Blues have every right to deny the 25-year-old midfielder a move so late into the transfer window, there's a danger that he could go AWOL, thus tanking his price ahead of January.
Even if Alonso were to then reintegrate Fernandez back into the squad, there's no guarantee that he would receive a warm welcome from his teammates, let alone the fans. Suddenly, the Chelsea manager would find himself stepping on eggshells in the dressing room and on the training pitch – player politics could derail the season.
Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez has been linked with a move to Manchester City(Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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Even if Fernandez were to behave exceptionally, publicly apologise for his actions, and sign a new contract to prove his loyalty, the Blues would likely have to keep Dario Essugo, who'd be much better off playing regularly on loan.
Chelsea would then probably have to delay signing the Argentine's replacement; by then, a player like Scott could be either unavailable or market inflation could be through the roof, potentially leaving Alonso empty-handed.
It would also be a disaster if the Blues can't find a new club for Sanchez, who under no circumstances should block the pathway of Mike Penders. The Chelsea sporting leadership team need to back Alonso at all costs.
To be sold: Marc Guiu, Tosin Adarabioyo, David Datro Fofana, and Gabriel Slonina.
To be loaned: Mykhailo Mudryk.
To be signed: Lamine Camara.