The summer transfer window slams shut at 11pm, and there's plenty of movement expected at Stamford Bridge in the coming hours.
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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Chelsea have plenty of work to do before the transfer window slams shut this evening...
Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Xabi Alonso reflected on the performance of the sporting leadership team at Stamford Bridge this summer, having requested a smaller squad with greater quality and experience when he put pen to paper on a four-year contract back in May.
"We are quite close to the plan we had," said the Blues manager on Thursday night, following the win over Luton Town in the Carabao Cup second round. "We will see where we finish, whether it is fully executed or whether there are still things to be done, or things we could not do."
When asked how he plans to manage the squad size, Alonso added: "I don't have a number, I have an idea. We will be close to that. Hopefully, all of them will feel involved. We are all in the same boat, and everyone is pulling in the same direction."
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Then, at the weekend, after storming past Brighton in the Premier League, the Blues gaffer left the door open to deadline day deals. Alonso said: "In football, I don't guarantee anything, not anyone."
And on the future of Enzo Fernandez specifically, he added: "Anything that happens before Tuesday evening, we need to be aware of what is going to develop.
"We are not sure, we are preparing for all the scenarios, but I am sure that whatever happens from Wednesday, we will have a good enough squad to compete in all the Premier League games..."
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So, with that being said, journalists at football.london have looked at what Chelsea need to do in the final hours of the transfer window.
Jake Stokes
First and foremost, Chelsea need to offload Enzo Fernandez for no less than £120m before swiftly signing Alex Scott from Bournemouth and Lamine Camara from Monaco. In an ideal world, I'd like to see the Blues also prise Manu Kone from Roma, but that could be a little greedy.
As for other departures from Stamford Bridge, Marc Guiu, Tosin Adarabioyo, David Datro Fofana, and Gabriel Slonina need to find new homes, while Mykhailo Mudryk and Dario Essugo need to be loaned out to established Premier League clubs.
Earlier in the summer, I wouldn't have batted an eyelid if Pedro Neto or Malo Gusto had been sold, given their disappointing ends to the season. But, unless a club were to submit an eye-watering fee that's impossible to reject, I'd like to see the duo survive deadline day – they've looked revitalised under Xabi Alonso.
BUY: Alex Scott, Manu Kone, and Lamine Camara.
SELL: Enzo Fernandez, Marc Guiu, Tosin Adarabioyo, David Datro Fofana, and Gabriel Slonina.
LOAN: Mykhailo Mudryk and Dario Essugo.
Bobby Vincent
I think all eyes are on the centre of midfield. One of Lamine Camara or Manu Kone. There is certainly more noise surrounding the latter going into the final hours of the transfer window.
Chelsea, as Xabi Alonso said at the weekend, need to be prepared for whatever happens in relation to Enzo Fernandez. If he leaves, there needs to be a plan in place - and by all accounts, it looks as if there is.
From the brief time I spent watching Kone, mostly at the World Cup, he was very impressive. A powerful runner with defensive and attacking instincts. Next to Moises Caicedo, that - on paper - has the potential to be a strong midfield partnership.
Elsewhere, some of the deadwood needs to be shipped. Selling Robert Sanchez and Tosin Adarabioyo has to be the priority in that regard. Finding loans for Dario Essugo and Mykhailo Mudryk will also be on the agenda on a busy deadline day.
BUY: Lamine Camara or Manu Kone.
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SELL: Robert Sanchez and Tosin Adarabioyo.
LOAN: Dario Essugo and Mykhailo Mudryk.
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