Another summer of huge spending has left the Blues facing some big decisions over a raft of first-team stars
Chelsea are facing a familiar problem as the transfer window draws to a close; an unexpectedly frenzied summer has left head coach Enzo Maresca with an oversized squad with the season already under way, and further additions are on their way in the form of £46 million (€60m) Joao Felix and, potentially, Victor Osimhen.
The Blues have been ridiculed for having more than 40 players on their books, and although many of them are obviously not anywhere near the first-team picture, there is a sense of urgency in terms of getting anyone unwanted out of the door with the market closing for business on August 30.
Conor Gallagher and Romelu Lukaku are finally on course to complete protracted transfers to Atletico Madrid and Napoli, respectively, but there are still almost a dozen players on the fringes of the Maresca's team and squad whose futures are unresolved.
Below, GOAL assesses what should be done in each of their cases: keep, loan or sell?
GettyKepa Arrizabalaga
Remember him? Once a blockbuster £72m ($94m) signing from Athletic Club, Kepa could hardly be further out of the picture at Stamford Bridge six years later. A loan to Real Madrid – who needed cover for the injured Thibaut Courtois last season – somehow did not prove to be the jumpstart his career needed as he lost his place in the team to Andriy Lunin.
With the transfer window winding down, Kepa finds himself stuck in limbo in exile at Chelsea. The Blues aren't exactly blessed with a wealth of quality goalkeepers, but his race is run. They will surely be desperate to recoup anything they can get for the 29-year-old.
Verdict: Sell
AdvertisementGetty ImagesCesare Casadei
When Chelsea signed Cesare Casadei from Inter's academy in 2022 in a costly £13m ($17m) transfer, it was considered a huge coup, with the midfielder viewed as a potential superstar. However, he has probably not developed as the club would have hoped, having had unspectacular loan spells in the Championship with Reading and, most recently, Leicester City.
The Blues are already overstocked for midfielders, so it's difficult to see Casadei getting the game time to build up the kind of form to command a starting place. Another youngster on whom they may have to cut their losses, although a final loan may make sense beforehand.
Verdict: Loan
Getty ImagesTrevoh Chalobah
Chelsea's treatment of academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah has been nothing short of shameful. Despite being one of their most consistent performers in the second half of last season, he was left out of the pre-season tour and has been exiled from the first team as the club try to force him out.
As much as the fanbase would love him to stay – especially with the dearth of outstanding quality at centre-back – it feels as though there is no way back for him at Stamford Bridge and, in truth, he deserves far better. That said, in an ideal fantasy world, Chalobah would be kept, with another of their underperforming central defenders sold off instead.
Verdict: Keep
Getty Images SportBen Chilwell
One of the club's longest-serving players, Ben Chilwell's Chelsea career appears set for a sad end as the hierarchy take the risk of backing the manager in his assertion that the defender does not fit his system. Speaking recently, Maresca brutally admitted: "With Chilly [Chilwell] it is quite clear, even though I love the way he is, the problem is, he is struggling a bit to find the right position. I need to make a decision and probably it is better to leave and go and get minutes."
The England international's fitness record certainly counts against him, as do his wages amid the club's newly-defined structure, but the Blues' decision-makers should be cautious about letting go of what little experience remains within the squad. However, Maresca's mind is seemingly already made up, and given Chilwell is prone to injury, it would perhaps be best to shift his salary.
Verdict: Sell