Chelsea have a rather unprecedented summer ahead of them. Not only are they taking part in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, that will extend the season, but the Blues will welcome a host of new players to Stamford Bridge.
Andrey Santos, who has spent the season on loan with Strasbourg, is set to return to Cobham over the summer with Chelsea planning to integrate the Brazilian midfielder into the first-team next term, sources have told football.london. Santos has excelled in France this season, playing for the BlueCo-owned Ligue 1 side, and there is genuine excitement from all involved to see how he fares at Stamford Bridge next term.
Likewise, there is real anticipation for the arrival of Estevao Willian, with the Brazil international finally moving to west London after being signed last summer. The general consensus is that the 17-year-old winger will fight for a spot in the senior squad in the 2025/26 campaign. It is less clear, however, with Kendry Paez, who could potentially be loaned out.
The same applies to goalkeeper Mike Penders, who is enjoying a strong season at Genk after agreeing a deal last summer in the region of £17million to move to Chelsea. Robert Sanchez has struggled at times this season and Filip Jorgensen has failed to cement his spot as No.1, although football.london understands Chelsea retain full belief in their goalkeeping duo.
Meanwhile, Dario Essugo will move from Sporting CP in the summer after Chelsea agreed a deal with the Portuguese club earlier in the month to bring the midfielder to SW6. All of the aforementioned players, whose total transfer fees add up to around £100million, are set to arrive in the summer and add a whole new dimension to Chelsea's squad. Below, football.london has jotted down a potential XI - one we will probably not ever see, but an exciting one nonetheless.
Alternative Chelsea XI: Penders; James, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Santos, Essugo; Estevao, Paez, George; Guiu.
This will not be the only movement at Stamford Bridge, however, with Chelsea expected to have - once again - a very busy summer transfer window. football.london understands the Blues are prioritising a top-class No.9 to the club before the beginning of the 2025/26 campaign with a few names on the shortlist compiled by the sporting directors.
On said list are the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen, Liam Delap and Benjamin Sesko, with the west Londoners considering their options as they look to ease the burden on Nicolas Jackson. Elsewhere, a new left winger is also on the agenda. There remains an uncertainty over Mykhailo Mudryk and the Blues will look to add a new left-sided wide player to boost Enzo Maresca's options.