Chelsea are planning somewhat of a summer clear out of their players as they look to facilitate incomings at Stamford Bridge.
As reported by football.london on Tuesday afternoon, the Blues are preparing to offload a whole host of players in the summer transfer window as they look to strengthen the squad with some signings. Chelsea have already completed the double signing of Dario Essugo and Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP over the past week, arriving in the summer of 2025 and 2026 respectively, but the club are planning to do a lot more than that in terms of incomings.
Chelsea have started their business early as they look to get ahead of the competition before the FIFA Club World Cup, in what will be a bit of an unusual summer for the Blues, who are one of the 32 clubs taking part in the revamped tournament. Essugo will arrive in the summer - and in time for the Club World Cup, that begins in June - and is very much expected to provide support for Moises Caicedo.
The Blues believe Essugo has similar attributes to Caicedo, who will undoubtedly remain first-choice in the centre of midfield for Enzo Maresca next season. Other areas will be addressed as well, with a left-sided winger and central striker both being looked at, football.london understands.
Chelsea were considering their options on the left wing over the January transfer window. Mathys Tel emerged as an option but the Frenchman ended up moving to Tottenham on loan, while Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens were also looked at. The latter two were very well liked by senior officials at Chelsea and could once again be options for the summer transfer window.
However, in order to comply with the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR), Chelsea will look to offload a number of players as well. Out of the current first-team squad, there are the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Christopher Nkunku and Trevoh Chalobah who are all set for a summer full of speculation over their respective futures.
Dewsbury-Hall was signed last summer from Leicester City for around £30million but has failed to cement a spot in the first-team at Stamford Bridge. While Maresca, who coached Dewsbury-Hall during their days at the King Power Stadium, is a big fan of the 26-year-old, he has given the midfielder less than 200 minutes on the pitch in the Premier League this season.
Nkunku, meanwhile, was wanted elsewhere in the January transfer window, with both Bayern Munich and Manchester United expressing their interest in the France international. Chelsea, however, wanted to keep hold of the 27-year-old forward but he is still yet to fully establish himself as a guaranteed starter in Maresca's setup. When Nicolas Jackson returns from injury after the international break, Nkunku could well return to being a bit-part player.
Chalobah was recalled from his loan spell at Crystal Palace in January with Chelsea lacking options at centre-back due to injuries to the likes of Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile. The Cobham graduate was told he could leave the club for good last summer and there is nothing to suggest something similar will not happen at the end of the current season.
Elsewhere, there are plenty of players out on loan who face uncertain futures in west London. Raheem Sterling is not part of Maresca's plans and is currently at Arsenal for the rest of the season. Sterling, however, has failed to make much of an impression at the Emirates Stadium and could return to Chelsea in the summer. The Blues will surely look to sell the 30-year-old winger, who has just over two years remaining on his contract in SW6.
Ben Chilwell is in a similar boat. The left-back, at Crystal Palace on loan, was frozen out of the Chelsea squad with Maresca preferring other options to the Englishman. Chilwell had plenty of options in the January transfer window, but football.london understands his wage demands proved an obstacle in negotiations, so if he was to leave permanently, he may have to take a cut on his salary.
Armando Broja is at Everton until the end of the season and seemingly has no future with Chelsea. The Cobham graduate is of long-term interest to numerous clubs in the Premier League and even some overseas, so finding him a new home should not be too much of an issue.
Kepa Arrizabalaga is having a fine season down at Bournemouth and with just over 12 months left to run on the 30-year-old goalkeeper's contract at Chelsea, it may finally be time for the player and the club to part ways for good in the summer. Alfie Gilchrist, meanwhile, is on loan at Sheffield United and the defender's future remains uncertain. He enjoyed a fine breakthrough season under Mauricio Pochettino but was then sent on loan to further his development.
David Datro Fofana seemingly has no future with the club. The Ivorian striker was recalled from his loan at Goztepe earlier in the year after he required surgery on a serious knee injury. However, finding him a new club could prove difficult with Fofana not expected to return from injury until next season.
We do not really know whether Lesley Ugochukwu has a future at Chelsea, but in his case, he looks like one of the players who could be used next season. The Blues did not include an option to buy in his loan deal with Southampton and football.london understands he remains highly-rated at Stamford Bridge. With the likes of Essugo arriving and Andrey Santos set to play a key part next season, though, you do wonder where that leaves Ugochukwu.
Carney Chukwuemeka joined Borussia Dortmund on loan in the January transfer window and could leave Chelsea permanently in the summer. football.london understands Dortmund have an option to buy the 21-year-old midfielder for a fee higher than the £40million release clause he has in his Blues contract.
Joao Felix moved to AC Milan on loan but there was no buy clause inserted in the Portuguese's deal. The murmurs coming from Italy suggest Milan will not want to sign the Portugal international permanently with recent performances putting them off.
Axel Disasi has done well at Aston Villa since joining in the mid-season transfer window. Chelsea were open to selling Disasi in January and their plans remain the same for the summer.
Renato Veiga switched to Juventus on loan in January without a buy option in his contract. Chelsea remain big fans of the Portuguese defender, who wants to play centre-back more frequently, but his future at Stamford Bridge is uncertain going into the final part of the season.