Chelsea is actively seeking solutions for their stacked dressing room. Many first-team players have been put up for possible exit from Stanford Bridge after being cleared by head coach Enzo Maresca. This comes ahead of the summer transfer deadline coming up on the 30th of August.
The Italian coach stated that he wanted all 30 players, but there was no space for all of them, so some had to leave. Players in this list are discussed below:
Conor Gallagher
England’s Conor Gallagher is set to leave his boyhood club this summer with less than a year remaining on his contract.
Atletico Madrid appeared set to secure Gallagher’s transfer for £33 million earlier this month, but the deal fell through after personal terms were reached between both parties. The English midfielder has since returned to the club but has been cleared to fly to Spain again ahead of a newly negotiated deal with the Spanish giants.
Gallagher failed to negotiate a new contract with Chelsea and is currently training separately from the first team as the club seeks to sell him. He was one of three senior players omitted from Chelsea’s matchday squad against Manchester City on Sunday.
Raheem Sterling
With recent interest from Juventus, Chelsea is considering the sale of 29-year-old English winger – Raheem Sterling. The Blues are set to sign Joao Felix from Athletico Madrid leaving Sterling’s position in the team questionable.
Sterling was excluded from Chelsea’s lineup against City on Sunday, prompting his representatives to issue a statement seeking clarity regarding his future with the Club. Although Maresca described the omission as a technical decision, Sterling’s stint at Stamford Bridge may be nearing its end. However, the situation is complicated by his substantial wages and the fact that he still has three years left on his contract with the Blues.
Sterling who has failed to replenish his record with Manchester City scored eight times and provided four assists for Mauricio Pochettino’s side in the 2023/24 season. He scored Chelsea’s second goal against his former club in the pre-season in the USA.
Romelu Lukaku
The riff between the club and the Belgian striker is worse than expected. The striker who cost the West London club £97.5m back in 2021 came back for a second spell and has refused to feature for the Blues after a devastating first season.
Following two seasons on loan at former Inter Milan and Roma, Chelsea are looking towards finally selling Lukaku this summer. Lukaku’s absence from Chelsea’s pre-season and matchday squad hints at a potential reunion with Antonio Conte at Napoli. The move could be crucial in Chelsea’s pursuit of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen. Both clubs are currently in talks to reach a deal for both players who have been left out of their first teams to facilitate a transfer.
Lukaku first arrived at the Club in 2011 at the age of 18 and made 12 appearances for the Blues in his first season. He made a breakthrough in his career with Everton, before moving to Italy to feature for Inter Milan.
Trevoh Chalobah
Chalobah is reportedly being forced out of the club after failing to retain his spot first in the first team. The Academy graduate was a regular starter for the Blues in the 2022/23 season but struggled with fitness after recovering from a thigh injury.
He was left out of Chelsea’s pre-season squad for their US tour and currently trains with the youth team alongside Romelu Lukaku. Maresca expressed his regret for the defender’s situation but noted that Chelsea’s surplus of defenders made it necessary. Newcastle, Crystal Palace, and West Ham have all been linked to the 25-year-old.
Armando Broja
Broja is another player who is expected to leave Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks. His Exclusion from Chelsea’s matchday squad against Manchester City, coupled with the reassignment of his shirt number to new signing Pedro Neto, shows that his future lies away from the club.
The Albanian striker scored once in 13 appearances for the Blues last season, although mostly getting a few minutes off the bench. He also helped his national team to the Euro 2024 tournament. Ipswich has reportedly shown interest in the 22-year-old, who previously spent time on loan with Southampton and Fulham.
Ben Chilwell
Despite playing only 64 minutes during Chelsea’s pre-season, Chilwell may be on the transfer list as Maresca revealed that the left-back doesn’t fully align with his tactical approach. With more preferred options like Marc Cucurella and Levi Colwill, the English wing-back has been put up for a possible sale.
Head coach Enzo Maresca praised his work ethic but also mentioned that the English defender struggles to find the best position in his team. He also added that it might be better for Chilwell to find a new club for more playing time as the transfer window remains open.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
The Spanish goalkeeper returned from a season-long loan from Real Madrid who didn’t use their option to Buy the keeper with the return of former Chelsea man and first goalkeeper – Thibaut Courtois from injury this season. He seems not to be included in Enzo Maresca’s plans for the current season. Chelsea currently have six senior goalkeepers in the team and are eager to offload Kepa permanently to streamline their squad.
The Spanish goalkeeper is currently in the final year of his contract and Chelsea is facing challenges in finding a new Club for him. Kepa’s huge wages and drop from action have made him appear non-interesting to other clubs. A sale is of interest to the Blues but a new loan deal could also be an option.
Carney Chukwuemeka
The 20-year-old was a crucial part of Mauricio Pochettino’s team in the 2023/24 season but missed parts of it through injury. Maresca acknowledged Chukwuemeka’s talent but mentioned the English star would be better off getting much-needed playing time outside the club to prove himself and gain a top spot in the team.
Chukwuemeka featured for the Blues ten times last season, scoring a goal and assisting once. Chelsea are open to selling the 20-year-old, with Barcelona and Crystal Palace showing previous interest in the youngster. However, reports suggest Chelsea may need to lower their asking price to facilitate a sale before the transfer deadline.
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Chelsea’s upcoming season will be a challenging one, a poor result in the first game against title holders – Manchester City has only increased the panic among loyal supporters and the club’s management. With much spent through the Summer transfer window, one would expect the team to be on the competitive edge this season. The introduction of Joao Felix to the squad would bring some much-needed relief to the fans and spice up the Blues attacking options this season.
The Blue’s upcoming fixtures promise fans a front-row seat to the excitement that the beautiful game brings. It’s a new era under Enzo Maresca, and the Italian coach with the support of the club’s management has made significant changes to the dressing room. More players are expected to leave the Bridge in the coming week ahead of the summer transfer window closure on August 30 while Enzo Maresca and his staff have their hands filled and will be tasked with choosing the best options for each game. Ensure you don’t miss any drama, reserve your tickets, and rally behind Blues on their journey through the 2024/2025 season.
