Chelsea are going to have some tough decisions on their hands when the 2025 summer transfer window opens in a few months’ time. While the Blues will be looking to bring in some players to strengthen their squad in time for the 2025/26 season, there are also set to be a few departures.
It is no secret that Chelsea will look to bring in a central striker at the end of the season with this campaign showing the Blues’ lack of depth up front – especially in recent weeks following the injury to Nicolas Jackson last month. Enzo Maresca has had to experiment with different shapes and personnel to try and solve his team’s problem in attacking areas.
Thankfully, in the last two games, Pedro Neto has shone while being used as the No.9; in what now looks like the way to go until Jackson is set to return after this month’s international break. The club, though, have a shortlist of strikers they are interested in before another busy summer transfer window.
There are other areas, too, where the Blues are looking to strengthen to provide Maresca with all the tools he needs to make the west Londoners a serious contender once again. There will, though, need to be some players departing in the summer as has always been the case with football at the elite level.
In this article, Bobby Vincent has picked out five players currently in the Chelsea first team squad and we will look at whether they should be kept, loaned or sold when the summer window comes around.
Trevoh Chalobah
Chalobah was recalled from his loan at Crystal Palace in January with Chelsea short of options at centre-back. The previous summer, the Cobham graduate was allowed to leave after he was left out of the squad for the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.
However, Chalobah has been there when Chelsea have needed him the most. It has not been perfect from the 25-year-old defender since returning but he has shown why he is such a reliable option at the heart of the Blues’ defence. In this case, the decision lies with the player ultimately.
If Chalobah can accept that he is not going to be first-choice under Maresca, then by all means it would suit both parties for him to stay around. But if Chalobah instead decides that he wants to play regular first team football, he may need to move elsewhere in order to get that.
Bobby’s verdict: KEEP.
Aaron Anselmino
Another one that was recalled in January from his loan with Boca Juniors. Anselmino has been in a few match day squads but is yet to feature for the Blues’ first team under Maresca.
There are high hopes for the Argentine defender from senior figures at the club, so moving him out on loan seems to be the sensible option. There is always the option of moving to BlueCo-owned Strasbourg but it would make more sense for Anselmino to go somewhere else in England as he looks to acclimatise to the United Kingdom after moving from South America.
Bobby’s verdict: LOAN.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
It is safe to say it has not worked out for Dewsbury-Hall since he followed Maresca from Leicester City to Chelsea last summer. Arriving for around £30million, the midfielder has not been able to get regular playing time for the Blues – particularly in the Premier League, where he has made the starting line-up just once and played only 179 minutes.
Having Dewsbury-Hall around as a bit-part player next season would not make too much sense on the financial front for Chelsea. At 26 years old, he is one of the more senior figures within the squad and the club may look to cash in on him to try and get the majority of the £30milliom they spent on him 12 months prior.
Bobby’s verdict: SELL.
Mathis Amougou
Strasbourg seems a readymade option for Amougou, who was signed for around £12million from Saint-Etienne during the mid-season transfer window. The teenager made his senior debut for the west Londoners in the win against Southampton; making a late cameo appearance at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca, however, has already confirmed Amougou is one for the future. Loan him out in the summer to try and get him some invaluable first team experience elsewhere and then reassess the situation in time for the 2026/27 season.
Bobby’s verdict: LOAN.
Christopher Nkunku
It is such a weird situation with Nkunku because Chelsea supporters are more than aware of his talent and goal scoring threat. However, it seems from the outside that Maresca has been unable to find a position or role where he is best in.
Saying that, though, there is such a serious footballer in there somewhere that I feel it would be silly to offload him in the summer, unless there was an offer you simply could not refuse. Joao Felix’s future seems away from Stamford Bridge, so keeping Nkunku as an option across all of the attacking areas makes the most sense.
Bobby’s verdict: KEEP.
