The London team are eager to improve their squad after finishing fourth in the league this season - and the manager is being ruthless with players that are cutting it
17:23, 02 Jun 2025Updated 17:28, 02 Jun 2025
Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea, acknowledges the fans as he walks past the UEFA Conference League trophy following his team's victory in the UEFA Conference League Final 2025
Maresca's Chelsea won the Europa Conference League last month [stock](Image: Getty Images)
Chelsea are set for a massive summer clear-out after securing their spot in next season's Champions League, with Enzo Maresca and his team prepared to bid farewell to an astonishing 14 first-team players
The Blues will be back in Europe's top competition next year following their fourth-place finish in the Premier League. Maresca is expected to receive backing in the transfer market after ending his debut season at the helm on a high note - and with a trophy - in last week's Europa Conference League final.
However, while the London club will be looking to strengthen Maresca's squad, several players will be shown the door in the coming months.
Joao Felix
Joao Felix looks set to leave Chelsea this summer [stock](Image: Mike Hewitt)
According to The Guardian, Noni Madueke and Joao Felix are among those Chelsea are keen to offload.
The latter joined permanently for £45million after a successful loan stint in 2023 but was loaned out to AC Milan for the second half of the 2024-25 season and is now free to leave permanently.
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Madueke had a solid season, netting 11 goals across all competitions and earning his first England caps.
However, the report suggests that there is a sense that the former PSV Eindhoven player's 'development has stalled', reports the Mirror.
A slew of other stars are effectively on the market as per the report, including both of the Blues' senior goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic.
Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, Wesley Fofana are all up for grabs at the right price and, a year on from the club's previous attempt to sell him, Trevoh Chalobah's future is once again in the balance.
In the midfield, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Carney Chukwuemeka and Lesley Ugochukwu are all on the market; Dewsbury-Hall followed Maresca in making the switch from Leicester to the Blues but has found it tough to make his mark at Stamford Bridge.
Christopher Nkunku and Raheem Sterling - who had a lacklustre stint on loan at Arsenal - have also been deemed surplus to requirements and can be transferred subject to acceptable offers.
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On the incoming front, Chelsea have kicked off discussions with Borussia Dortmund over a transfer for Jamie Gittens, the England Under-21 winger who has also been linked with Arsenal and Liverpool.
It's still up in the air whether the Blues will activate their £25m obligation to sign Jadon Sancho permanently, with the club having the option to pull out of a deal at the cost of a £5m penalty.
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