Chelsea once occupied a prominent position within the Premier League’s top six for a significant portion of last season, spending around 200 days in this coveted spot. However, their campaign took a dramatic downturn, culminating in a disappointing 10th-place finish. This outcome has left the club without the prospect of participating in European competitions in the upcoming season.
This situation signals that a substantial overhaul is necessary this summer. The club had assembled a large squad to handle the demands of a packed schedule, including commitments like the Club World Cup. However, with the team’s focus narrowing to just one match a week, such an extensive roster is no longer warranted.
As Xabi Alonso prepares to officially take the helm on July 1, he has already begun to evaluate the squad informally. Now that it’s confirmed Chelsea won’t partake in European tournaments, Alonso may need to take on the role of the ‘Butcher of the Bridge,’ tasked with trimming down the squad to a more manageable size.
In light of this, here’s a look at which players we believe Chelsea should keep, sell, or loan out as they chart a new course.
Chelsea capitulated in the second half of the season and finished 10th
Who will Xabi Alonso want to keep from this underwhelming and bloated Chelsea squad?
Liam Delap – SELL
Liam Delap, who joined Chelsea for £30 million last summer, has had a particularly underwhelming season. His time on the field has been marked by controversy rather than success, most notably for an incident involving an elbow on Tottenham’s Djed Spence. This altercation is as memorable as his contributions on the scoreboard, with his lone goal occurring during a 2-1 defeat against Fulham in January. Given these circumstances, it might be best for Chelsea to consider moving him on.
A friend described Delap to me a couple weeks back as a ‘big fridge’. That’s all I can see now, frankly. Delap needs to leave Chelsea, find a new home, and hopefully score some goals to get his career back on track after a season of nothingness.
Wesley Fofana – SELL
Fofana has turned into a £200,000-a-week liability. His defending has been average at best, and he has shown his immaturity, on and off the pitch.
Sunday saw Fofana’s second red card of the season. Already on a yellow, he dragged down Wilson Isidor. Levi Colwill tried to claim he committed the foul himself to save his friend – shouting ‘it was me!’ at the referee – but it was no good. Chelsea were losing 2-1 to Sunderland in a game they only needed to draw to secure European football, but down to 10 men, their hopes were dashed.
Fofana’s other red card was also a stupid second yellow when he planted his studs into James Ward-Prowse. Chelsea were beating Burnley 1-0 at that time, then they drew 1-1 after Fofana’s dismissal.
Chelsea need to sell the Frenchman but their big issue will be finding a buyer willing to pay him such a silly salary, as he is contracted until 2029 on terms negotiated before they introduced their incentives approach. The potential is there for a messy situation if Fofana refuses to go.
Wesley Fofana has turned into a £200,000-a-week liability. His defending has been average at best, and he has shown his immaturity, on and off the pitch
Enzo Fernandez – KEEP
I was at the Stadium of Light, and yes, there were several players holding their hands up in the air by way of an apology towards the away end. Only one of them was waving them from what I could see, though, and that was Fernandez. Was he waving goodbye for the summer or for good? Perhaps he himself does not even know yet.
I’d keep Fernandez, purely because Chelsea are a better team with him in it, but if a rival were willing to pay preposterous money – circa £100m – then that should be considered.
Pedro Neto – SELL
When Neto was substituted against Sunderland he had a look on his face that suggested he could not believe he was the one being sacrificed following Fofana’s red card. ‘Me? Really?’
I would have argued to keep Neto for his Premier League experience, but they don’t need him now. With one game a week, let Estevao Willian man the right-hand side, or Cole Palmer, or even the incoming Geovany Quenda. We do not know yet whether Alonso will be wedded to a 3-4-2-1 system with wing-backs or willing to use a 4-2-3-1 with wingers. Either way, Neto is now more interested in playing a safe pass backwards than getting at his full back when one-v-one.
Pedro Neto is now more interested in playing a safe pass backwards than getting at his full back when one-v-one
Mamadou Sarr – LOAN
Sarr was asked to leave Strasbourg in January, join Chelsea, and reunite with Liam Rosenior. Then he disappeared. His substitute appearance versus Tottenham last week was his first appearance since March.
I feel for the 20-year-old. Despite Chelsea’s woeful end to the season, Sarr could hardly get near the line-up. Get the lad a loan this summer, or sell if you must.
Moises Caicedo – KEEP
There is one table that Chelsea topped in the Premier League this season, at least. It was for total interceptions made. Nobody completed more than Caicedo, whose tally of 59 put him joint-top with Everton’s James Garner.
Years ago, in an interview with The Guardian, Alonso said: ‘I don’t think tackling is a quality. It is a recurso, something you have to resort to, not a characteristic of your game. I can’t get into my head that football development would educate tackling as a quality.’ Even so, Caicedo has shown more than tackling, playing balls in behind for runners while working under interim boss Calum McFarlane.
Moises Caicedo is a master of tackling and interceptions… but will Alonso be interested in that side of his game?
Joao Pedro – KEEP
Joao Pedro was one of those apologising to the away fans at Sunderland, when, actually, he is among the last who should feel the need to do so. He’s impressed in his first season with Chelsea, scoring 20 goals in all competitions. Barcelona like him, but he should not be sold, and we are told insiders at Stamford Bridge consider him one of their ‘untouchables’.
Malo Gusto – SELL
Gusto has been a helpful player, his versatility aiding Enzo Maresca especially, but he has not done enough to deserve the new deal he has apparently been craving. I’ve changed my mind on Gusto as this substandard season unfolded.
Levi Colwill – KEEP
Easy. Chelsea might not have been in this mess had Colwill not injured his ACL last summer. Make him your leader at the heart of Alonso’s defence, whether it be a three or a four.
Chelsea might not have been in this mess had Levi Colwill (left) not injured his ACL last summer
Trevoh Chalobah – KEEP
I imagine this will not be a view shared by everyone, but while Chalobah may not be starting material for Chelsea, he is a perfectly adequate option within the pecking order. He is a Cobham boy who, while not the world’s greatest central defender, isn’t someone whose passion for this club I would question.
Filip Jorgensen – SELL
I haven’t seen enough from Jorgensen that makes me confident he’s going to be up to the standards of Chelsea. Rosenior gambled by axing Sanchez after a 2-1 loss at Arsenal, and it backfired, big time.
Robert Sanchez – KEEP
Why Rosenior felt the need to crush Sanchez’s confidence by suddenly dropping him during his doomed 106-day tenure, I’ll never understand. Mike Penders is scheduled to arrive from Strasbourg this summer, but there are some reservations over whether he is ready for such a step up. I’d keep Sanchez, regardless of whether Penders stays or goes. I still have faith in Chelsea’s goalkeeper, even if I am alone in that regard.
I still have faith in Chelsea’s goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, even if I am alone in that regard
Mike Penders – KEEP
Keep him at Chelsea, let him learn from Sanchez and use him in the cup competitions. If he impresses in those, and in training, give him the odd crack in the Premier League to see how he handles the step up initially. The 20-year-old Belgian would be a far better option than Jorgensen.
Marc Cucurella – SELL
I’ve loved covering Cucurella, but he’s only got two years remaining on his contract now. If Alonso wants to use wing-backs, that role isn’t for this left back. He’s a good character to have, but has not seemed too bothered amid Chelsea’s plight, including in their utterly unserious showing away at Sunderland. Time for him to move on.
Alejandro Garnacho – SELL
Let’s recap Chelsea’s left wing buys. Mykhailo Mudryk: cost £89m, now suspended from football for failing a doping test, hasn’t played since November 28, 2024.
Raheem Sterling: cost £47.5m, sent into the bomb squad, left via an agreement to end his contract early.
Jadon Sancho: joined on loan, club paid £5m to not sign him after his one and only season in blue.
Jamie Gittens: cost £52m, no goals in the Premier League, two assists, nine chances created, injured since January.
Garnacho was signed for £40m from Manchester United, and has only added to those left-wing woes. Sell while there are still buyers.
Alejandro Garnacho is the latest in a long line of left-wing flops for Chelsea and they should sell him while they still can
Jamie Gittens – SELL
Maybe this is harsh, given Gittens has been injured and so has hardly had as many chances to impress as Garnacho, but bold calls need to be made after missing out on Europe. If you can recoup a respectable chunk of his fee, then consider the sale.
I’d rather watch Jesse Derry on the left wing right now. At least the academy graduate has a little fearlessness to him.
Reece James – KEEP
Club captain. Top talent. Just signed a new contract.
Cole Palmer – KEEP
Alonso worked wonders with Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen, and Palmer isn’t too dissimilar as a style of player. Thomas Tuchel excluded him from his England squad for the World Cup. While Palmer may blame his circumstances – the faltering team within which he has been playing – he also needs to look at himself. Have a summer off. Come back wanting to show the world why you should still be considered one of the best.
Cole Palmer’s drop-off in form led to him missing out on Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad
Jorrel Hato – KEEP
During Chelsea’s disastrous run – five consecutive league losses without scoring for the first time since 1912 – Hato was one of the few who came out of it with any credit. I’ve liked watching him and his leadership has started to come through. He’ll be useful for Alonso.
Tosin Adarabioyo – SELL
While perhaps helpful as a presence around the squad – and Palmer’s best mate, of course – he would have his takers elsewhere in the Premier League.
Dario Essugo – LOAN
After missing most of the season through a thigh injury which required surgery, he returned in March, though his chances to impress have been fleeting. Caicedo doesn’t need the cover so much now that Chelsea will not be in Europe.
Andrey Santos – SELL
Chelsea are targeting a midfield signing this summer and so, Santos may find himself struggling to get in the team even more than he already is. Along with Essugo, he was an unused substitute away at Sunderland on the season’s final day.
No club made more changes to their Premier League starting line-ups over 2025-26 than the Blues’ 121 – and their 30 players used were up there with the most, too – but Alonso won’t have the need to chop and change so much.
Chelsea are targeting a midfield signing this summer and so, Andrey Santos may find himself struggling to get in the team even more than he already is
Estevao Willian – KEEP
It’s such a shame that a hamstring injury ended his season for Chelsea. At 19, he brings the excitement, and we’ll all look forward to watching him again next season.
Josh Acheampong – LOAN
Acheampong will not have found his dwindling opportunities satisfactory this season. We can all see the potential. I’d loan him so he can get that game time he wants, and then we can see what he does with it. Chuck a January recall clause in there in case it isn’t going the way he, or his club, wants.
It would be too big of a risk for Chelsea to sell him now – they don’t want him becoming another Marc Guehi or Lewis Hall.
Benoit Badiashile – SELL
Not been used since an FA Cup game away at Wrexham on March 7. Surplus to requirements.
Romeo Lavia – SELL
I’ve long wanted it to work out for Lavia at Chelsea, for him to finally overcome his injury hell and shine. But he missed the end of the season again with an issue, described to us as a ‘slight knock’. That ‘knock’ saw him miss the last three matches of the campaign – the FA Cup final loss to Manchester City and their Premier League clashes with Tottenham and Sunderland.
The Belgian still hasn’t completed a full 90 minutes for Chelsea since joining for £53m three years ago.
Romeo Lavia still hasn’t completed a full 90 minutes for Chelsea since joining for £53m three years ago
Marc Guiu – SELL
He has not appeared since that 3-0 loss away at Brighton – the one in which the players were accused of downing tools to get rid of Rosenior. Maybe a loan would suffice, but Chelsea would be able to make a tidy profit on Guiu, who only cost £5m when signed from Barcelona.
Axel Disasi – SELL
If West Ham had stayed up, signing Disasi permanently would have been a possibility. He will not fancy the Championship, however, and so a return to Chelsea after his season-long loan is upon us. They will find a buyer. He impressed enough at the London Stadium to warrant attention from across Europe.
Shim Mheuka – LOAN
It’s hard to imagine how frustrating Mheuka has found this season, watching others get chances while he was scoring for fun for Chelsea’s development side. It is a kick in the teeth for Cobham that the senior team ended this season without even qualifying for one of Europe’s lesser competitions. That might have at least afforded chances for their academy’s talents. Such opportunities will be at a premium now.
Shim Mheuka (left) will have been frustrated having to watch others get their chance while he was forced to play for the academy sides
Emmanuel Emegha – LOAN
Chelsea committed to signing Emegha before Alonso was named Chelsea’s manager. He will now have to decide what to do with him and, of course, his Strasbourg team-mate Valentin Barco. From what I’ve seen of Emegha, I would suggest a loan.
Nicolas Jackson – KEEP
I would keep Jackson if he is willing to work with Chelsea again after returning from his loan with Bayern Munich. I recall once being told by a source close to the striker that he would not play for Chelsea again while Maresca remained head coach. But Maresca is not there now. Jackson with his relentless running in behind would be a far greater option up top than Delap.
