Chelsea is gearing up for a significant transformation this summer. Beyond the essential task of appointing a new head coach, the club is also preparing for an active transfer window, with numerous signings, sales, and loans on the horizon.

Critical decisions lie ahead regarding players like Enzo Fernandez, Robert Sanchez, Wesley Fofana, Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho, and Liam Delap, among others. With the season drawing to a close, there is much speculation about the future of each squad member. In this week’s edition of Chelsea Confidential, we delve into these potential changes and predict the fate of the players.

ENZO FERNANDEZ – KEEP

Fernandez is reportedly seeking a new contract with Chelsea, akin to the lucrative deals given to teammates like Moises Caicedo, Reece James, and Cole Palmer. While the club is expected to revisit contract negotiations with him after the season concludes, for now, their official stance remains focused on the search for a new coach. Once a decision is made between candidates such as Andoni Iraola, Xabi Alonso, or Sebastian Hoeness, addressing Fernandez’s future will become a priority. Chelsea will need to decide how to proceed with their £106.8 million investment in Fernandez.

Fernandez wants a new contract out of Chelsea – similar to those handed to Moises Caicedo, Reece James, Cole Palmer and so on – and we understand the club will reopen talks over terms after the end of this season to see if they can come to an agreement. 

Chelsea sources aren’t commenting too much on Fernandez’s situation right now, however. The response you will receive to such enquiries is that their focus is on their coaching search. But once they have secured Andoni Iraola, Xabi Alonso or Sebastian Hoeness – whoever it winds up being – they will need to address what happens with their £106.8million man this summer. 

Fernandez was banned for two games by his own club for flirting with Real Madrid in the last international break, and then he was back to wearing the captain’s armband again, including in their FA Cup semi-final victory over Leeds at Wembley. That was the box-crashing Fernandez at his motivated best – just the latest example of him scoring an important goal in an important game. 

If a deal can be struck this summer which satisfies both Chelsea and Fernandez, then everyone wins in my opinion, because the bottom line is they are a better team with him than without him.

WESLEY FOFANA – SELL

Fofana is fit again after his injury hell, but we expected more from the 25-year-old once healthy at Chelsea. He was hooked at half-time in their 3-0 thumping by Brighton last week, then an unused substitute in the FA Cup semi-final win against Leeds, with Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah preferred as a centre-back pairing.

Confidence in Fofana has clearly dwindled, his sulking not helping during their ridiculous losing run. When Chelsea interim Calum McFarlane was explaining why he selected Tosin for Leeds, he spoke of how sorry he felt for Jorrel Hato, with Fofana practically demoted to an afterthought in his answer. 

You have to go back to December 13, in a 2-0 win over Everton, to find the last time this defender on more than £200,000 per week started in a Premier League game and kept a clean sheet. Sell if there is a buyer this summer.

ROBERT SANCHEZ – KEEP

There is a goalkeeper at Chelsea who I would let go, but it would not be Sanchez. 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, and a temptation to allow him another season away on loan.

Regardless of whether Penders stays or goes, I’d keep Sanchez. He’s not the greatest goalkeeper with his feet but a hell of a shot-stopper, as evidenced at Wembley. Why Liam Rosenior felt the need to crush his confidence by suddenly dropping him during his doomed 106-day tenure, when he had hardly committed any blunders in goal for Chelsea this season, I’ll never understand. 

It created a problem where previously there was not one.

MAMADOU SARR – LOAN

I feel for Sarr. There he was, happily playing and performing for Strasbourg, then he was asked to rejoin Rosenior at Chelsea in January. 

We have seen something similar before. Enzo Maresca comes in, and he gets someone he knows in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Rosenior comes in, and he gets Sarr, whom he once described as ‘my son’. 

He was impressive in his first start versus Hull in the FA Cup, but struggled somewhat in the odd appearance thereafter, including the 3-0 Champions League last-16 second-leg loss to Paris Saint-Germain. The 20-year-old was hooked at half-time in that defeat, and hasn’t been seen since. 

Josh Acheampong, 19, replaced him against PSG, and is higher in Chelsea’s thinking, coming on as a substitute a few times while Sarr remained unused. Get the lad a loan this summer so he can progress.

TREVOH CHALOBAH – KEEP

Chelsea want to sign a central defender this summer. They missed out on Jeremy Jacquet, the 20-year-old of Rennes who is Liverpool-bound, but Jan Paul van Hecke at Brighton and Maxence Lacroix at Crystal Palace are among the more experienced options this summer. 

In Chalobah, Chelsea have a handy centre-back option. Chelsea filmed their players walking into the Wembley changing room after beating Leeds, and Chalobah was kissing the badge to the camera. He loves the club, is one of their own, and should stay.

PEDRO NETO – KEEP

The 26-year-old isn’t a fan favourite, and he can be inconsistent with sending himself down cul-de-sacs on the flank, but he is an experienced attacker who can still be impactful when the tactical set-up allows. Only Joao Pedro (25) and Fernandez (19) have more goal contributions in all competitions than Neto (18) this season. 

He has done enough to stay. That doesn’t mean starting him in every single match. Estevao Willian may get more minutes, for example, raw though he is at 19. But Neto can still have a role to play, on the right wing or the left.

MOISES CAICEDO – KEEP

Obviously. Chelsea have just handed Caicedo an improved contract. It did not add a great deal of years – he’s now tied down until 2033 – but it keeps him happy.

JOAO PEDRO – KEEP

Obviously, again. Joao Pedro is my nomination for Chelsea’s Player of the Year. 

I get why Fernandez was named man of the match against Leeds at Wembley. He grabbed the game’s only goal as the captain. But I handed my highest player rating to Joao Pedro. He’s scored 19 goals and assisted six in his first season in all competitions – a £60m bargain from Brighton.

LIAM DELAP – SELL

I interviewed Delap after he was signed by Chelsea from Ipswich last summer, while we were with the club in the United States, and came out of that conversation sincerely hoping it would work for him. Unfortunately, it hasn’t. 

He’s had to deal with injuries and managerial changes. He knew Maresca from Manchester City’s academy. He knew Rosenior from Hull. Now he is working with McFarlane, and yet another head coach will arrive this summer. 

Delap wants to stay, and prove people like me wrong, but this summer Chelsea will have Emmanuel Emegha, 23, coming in from Strasbourg and Nicolas Jackson, 24, returning from Bayern Munich. More on Jackson later. There is also Joao Pedro, and Marc Guiu. 

Chelsea cannot keep them all, and Delap could be moved on for his own sake, so he can find a new home with game-time and, hopefully, score some goals. 

He would not be the first forward to be moved on after a single season. He wouldn’t even be the first forward at Chelsea. They have a history of signing goalscorers who, for one reason or another, never found their groove. It happened to Chris Sutton in 1999-2000. He scored one goal in 28 Premier League games, then was sold to Celtic, where he thrived. 

Delap has one in 25, and zero assists. After costing £30m, Chelsea could still get back a good whack of their fee in the next window.

MARC CUCURELLA – KEEP

Cucurella will only have two years remaining on his contract as of this summer, which is usually when Chelsea either extend or sell. 

Jorrel Hato was signed primarily to deputise for Cucurella at left back, though he has impressed while filling in as a central defender. If the 27-year-old Spaniard were willing, and I believe he is, he could be tied down for longer rather than seeking to sell. Good player. Good character. Chelsea need more of those. Not less.

MALO GUSTO – KEEP

I can understand why Gusto would want a new and improved contract of his own. His contribution is underrated and underappreciated. In the Club World Cup final against PSG, for example, his movements down the right-hand side allowed Cole Palmer to drift inside and do what he did. 

I’m not saying Gusto suddenly deserves crazy money, but he is a handy utility player to have in the squad. He can play on the right side of the defence, or the left. He can invert, or fly down the flank. He can be used in midfield if necessary. Gusto stays.

ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – SELL

It just hasn’t worked. The left wing is practically cursed for Chelsea. Mykhailo Mudryk: cost £89m, now suspended from football for failing a doping test, hasn’t played since November 28, 2024. 

Raheem Sterling: cost £50m, 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, injured since January. 

Garnacho was signed for £40m from Manchester United, and when the fans at Wembley realised he was being replaced by Palmer for the final 20 minutes against Leeds, there were a fair few cheers. 

Unfortunately for Garnacho, who seems a nice enough chap despite his reputation, and for Chelsea, they aren’t meant for one another. There is time to recoup a good chunk of his fee this summer. He will still have his buyers.

JAMIE GITTENS – KEEP

Garnacho has had enough chances to impress, whereas Gittens hasn’t, largely due to his hamstring injury. Surely Chelsea will see if next season goes any better for the 21-year-old. You suspect Chelsea would struggle to recoup anywhere near their £52m spend right now, anyhow.

REECE JAMES – KEEP

I did find it amusing when James did that press conference at Cobham alongside Rosenior, who told us: ‘I can’t stop smiling because we’ve secured the best player in world football in his position.’ 

The next day, James started in midfield, rather than as a right back. Anyway, that presser was conducted after Chelsea tied James down to his new deal until 2032, so the club captain is going nowhere, and that is good news.

COLE PALMER – KEEP

Hasn’t been his season, with injuries holding him back. Despite the constant links with Manchester United, Palmer himself has insisted it’s hogwash and that he isn’t itching to leave. 

Chelsea need Palmer back to his best. Hopefully he can get fully healthy – we will soon see if Thomas Tuchel takes him to the World Cup with England – and Chelsea’s next manager can inspire a better version than the one we have seen in 2025-26.

JORREL HATO – KEEP

Amid Chelsea’s ridiculously awful run – five league losses without scoring for the first time since 1912 – Hato was one of the few who came out of it with any credit. Almost as if he did not get the memo to stop playing for Rosenior. 

He was unfortunate not to start against Leeds at Wembley and his willingness to step up and show his abilities has been good to see.

TOSIN ADARABIOYO – SELL

Tosin doesn’t start often for Chelsea but I’ve seen, from my position in the press box behind the bench, how he is prone to standing up and shouting tactical instructions at team-mates. 

Perhaps that was partly why we saw McFarlane rely on him in their FA Cup semi-final win over Leeds, and why, during that cheeky Sanchez-enforced tactical time-out, it was Tosin who the interim was largely speaking with. 

However, his ability as a player should be prioritised, first and foremost, and Tosin, while perhaps helpful as a presence around the squad, would have his takers elsewhere in the Premier League. 

Nathan Ake and John Stones are set to be available this summer if another elder statesman is required, and personally, I don’t think either would be a bad acquisition. Stones less so given his recent injury history.

DARIO ESSUGO – LOAN

After missing most of the season through a thigh injury which required surgery, he returned in March, and, in his few appearances, the 21-year-old Essugo has impressed. But he needs game time, and that will not come at Chelsea with their other midfield options.

ANDREY SANTOS – KEEP

Maresca used him sparingly, then when Rosenior arrived, we saw more of Santos. However, those starts in January and February soon dried up, and he’s now back to playing a supportive role. 

With Essugo being loaned as above, I’d keep Santos as a midfield option, though we will also need to see if Chelsea are successful in signing one of the midfielders they want this summer. As reported here, they are watching Adam Wharton at Crystal Palace and Elliot Anderson at Nottingham Forest.

ESTEVAO WILLIAN – KEEP

It’s such a shame that a hamstring injury has ended his season for Chelsea, and potentially his World Cup with Brazil. At 19, he brings the excitement, and we’ll all look forward to watching him again in 2026-27.

JOSH ACHEAMPONG – LOAN

One of Chelsea’s own. We’ve had managers tell us how much they love Acheampong, 19. Maresca said it. Rosenior said it. But two starts since January is not enough. If this truly is an elite defender in waiting, then he needs to play much more than he is. 

Chelsea have turned down approaches from rivals in the past. He’s long been on Bayern Munich’s radar. Get him on loan to a Premier League club for next season, and slap a recall clause in there if it isn’t working by January.

BENOIT BADIASHILE – SELL

Can you remember the last time Badiashile made a Chelsea matchday squad? Well, it was March 14, as an unused substitute in the 1-0 loss to Newcastle. He joined for £35m from Monaco in January 2023, and this summer should see him make his exit.

ROMEO LAVIA – KEEP

Yes, I know, he’s forever injured. Except, he isn’t right now, and I’m an optimist who hopes he can stay healthy. He returned at the start of March, and is still available today, so he should get one last crack at making something of his Chelsea career. 

The club are clearly taking it easy after his latest comeback. He’s yet to complete a full 90 and was signed in 2023 for an initial £53m. He’s got the talent. He’s only 22 years old still. He can still turn this around.

FILIP JORGENSEN – SELL

Jorgensen hasn’t shown enough to convince that 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. They won 4-1 at Aston Villa in their next outing, but then lost 5-2 to PSG, with Jorgensen largely at fault for that implosion, and he hasn’t been seen since because of a groin injury. 

That has given Teddy Sharman-Lowe some time around the first-team squad, at least. Sanchez is much more trusted between the posts than Jorgensen.

MARC GUIU – LOAN

Another player I pity. He was recalled from his loan to Sunderland as an emergency because Chelsea were lacking strikers with Delap injured and Jackson having already travelled to Munich to finalise his loan move. 

Clearly, they initially sent Guiu elsewhere as he needed to gain experience to improve. The 20-year-old isn’t getting that game time at Chelsea, where Joao Pedro has cemented himself as the No 9. Guiu is a bundle of energy when leading the line, but still raw in the extreme. Loan him again this summer and see how he goes.

AND A FEW BONUS VERDICTS:  

LEVI COLWILL – KEEP

He hasn’t played a single minute for Chelsea’s senior side this season because of the ACL injury he endured on the very first day of pre-season training last summer. But the 23-year-old played a full 90 for the Under 21s on Saturday, completed 60 minutes in a behind-closed-doors match the week before, and is continuing to train fully with the first team. 

We should see Colwill back in the senior squad soon, even if only to remind him of that matchday experience after so long on the sidelines. McFarlane will update us on that one at his Friday press conference this week.

NICOLAS JACKSON – KEEP

Bayern Munich are not set to sign Jackson permanently once his season-long loan is up, so he is scheduled to return to Chelsea, and if all parties are willing to let bygones be bygones, that is where I would keep him. 

Jackson’s relationship with Maresca broke down entirely by the end. I recall once being told by a source close to the striker that he would not play for Chelsea again while he remained head coach. But Maresca is not there now. 

Maybe the club and player will come to the conclusion that too much has happened for him to remain, but when you already own a striker who could clearly improve your squad, I see more sense in keeping him than selling or loaning. Certainly he would have been a better option than Delap has been.

AXEL DISASI – SELL

Since Chelsea last kept a Premier League clean sheet on January 17, Disasi has helped West Ham secure five shutouts in his 10 starts. He’s been a warrior for the Hammers as they fight to retain their status. Yet there is no hope of reconciliation after the way he was banished. The ideal scenario for Chelsea is that West Ham survive and agree to sign him permanently.

CALUM McFARLANE – KEEP

Whoever agrees to become the next boss of Chelsea, I suspect he will be asked for his permission to allow McFarlane to continue on his coaching staff. 

While football can be a callous business, we should not see the club hire a new head coach and then say toodleoo to the bloke they appointed as their interim. I’m sure they will find a role somewhere in the first-team set-up.