Chelsea have sold Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid, but still have a great deal of work to do in the transfer window, this being a crucial summer if they are to return to the Champions League under Xabi Alonso.
They need to nail the ins and outs with club sources saying they would like at least two signings of high enough quality that they are able to immediately enter their starting line-up next season.
However, sales are a necessity, too, after missing out on European football for 2026-27. With that, here is the latest from inside Stamford Bridge from Kieran Gill, our Chelsea correspondent.
Is Alonso working yet?
Officially, he starts work on July 1. Unofficially, he’s involved, yes. He’s had a tour of Cobham alongside his assistants, has been in London with his family, spoken with several players and is being constantly consulted on potential ins and outs.
I saw a story in Spain that claimed Alonso only learned of Cucurella leaving for Madrid via social media. Which, as you probably know, is nonsense. As if a manager of a club would not be informed on the sale of a senior player.
Chelsea are pleased with the overall outcome of Cucurella’s £51.8m exit given, we are told, the Spaniard had let them know he was interested in returning to his homeland for family reasons. Jorrel Hato’s development last season was a contributing factor in sanctioning the sale, and Valentin Barco is in line to arrive from Strasbourg.
Chelsea say their intention is to reinvest and strengthen.
Chelsea say they will reinvest the £51.8m they have made from the sale of Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid
Why aren’t many names being linked with Chelsea?
Cards are being kept close to chests, which is fine, if a little frustrating when covering Chelsea. Scroll social media and you’ll see tons of supposed targets, this name and that, Sandro Tonali, Andrea Cambiaso and so on and so forth.
We hear whispers, too, but have to verify rumours before reporting as fact. I’ll give a little example – and don’t go aggregating this, aggregators, it’s just a small side note – of what can happen when chasing a transfer tale. I had two names of potential interest put to me from outside sources about a week ago: Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal, and Lucas Bergvall of Tottenham. So I did what we’re supposed to do and checked these transfer tips with the relevant contacts inside of Chelsea who would know.
The feedback I received was that they aren’t currently in for either. Neither Nwaneri, nor Bergvall, despite Chelsea liking them in windows of old. So I did not write a story. It’s disappointing in a way, because you want a transfer tip to be backed up so you can break the news, but it happens. On to the next one.
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri was with England during their pre-World Cup warm-up camp but Chelsea have made no attempt to sign the midfielder
Do you think Enzo Fernandez will leave?
If I had to make a prediction – I’d be surprised if he’s still a Chelsea player next season.
Clearly, Fernandez is open to moving to Madrid. I’m told personal terms are not seen as an obstacle. Chelsea are aware of interest from Madrid. But from what I’m hearing, it does not sound as if club-to-club talks centred on hashing out a deal for Fernandez have started between Chelsea and Madrid as of yet.
Whatever noise flying around on this transfer is not coming out of Chelsea. They’re staying fairly schtum on it. They’ve set their £120million valuation, and that’s that as far as they’re concerned.
It’s worth noting on top of all of this – Chelsea have said from the start that they would be happy to keep Fernandez if nobody coughs up the cash that it will take to sell him. They think their sale of Cucurella for £51.8m reflects their ability to secure significant value in the transfer market.
Chelsea have put a £120m price tag on Enzo Fernandez but there has been no approach from Real Madrid as yet
Will Chelsea sign a centre back?
It’s considered a priority position for Chelsea this summer.
A while back, I reported Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix and Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke were among the ‘ready-made’ options being looked at. Van Hecke has now signed for Tottenham, who have made a habit of nabbing Chelsea-linked players, having previously got Xavi Simons, Mathys Tel and Marcos Senesi.
Personally, I do wonder if Chelsea would go back in for Dean Huijsen. He had huge admiration inside the club, who were disappointed to miss out on him to Madrid last summer. Could scratch an itch there if Huijsen was willing and Jose Mourinho, who worked with him briefly as a loanee at Roma, did not mind letting him leave. But that’s just me thinking out loud.
Chelsea have a bunch of centre backs on the books – Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, Josh Acheampong, Aaron Anselmino, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Mamadou Sarr, am I forgetting anyone? – and they’re looking to sign another one worthy of going straight into their starting line-up. So, obviously, sales and loans are going to be a necessity, especially when there is no European football for spreading minutes around.
Chelsea have an interest in the France and Crystal Palace centre-half Maxence Lacroix
What type of targets do Chelsea want this summer?
A centre-back as mentioned, and also a versatile tried-and-tested addition to their attack.
I don’t think it’s any secret that they like Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, but, obviously, they aren’t alone in that regard. Tyrique George is likelier to be sold than stay if he returns from Everton, who have not yet triggered their buy option on the Cobham graduate. My understanding is that clause is worth around £25m.
Chelsea like Aston Villa and England’s Morgan Rogers, but, obviously, they aren’t alone in that regard
Front-of-shirt sponsor update if possible?
Chelsea won’t want to start yet another season without a front-of-shirt sponsor, because, let’s be honest, it’s a tad embarrassing for this to be happening year after year. The deal with IFS expired at the end of the last season.
Every so often, we’ll see claims on social media that they have an agreement in place, then no announcement follows. As of today, Chelsea sources say they are in talks with a number of potential partners, but add there’s nothing they can confirm at this stage.
If the club wanted to name a new front-of-shirt sponsor tomorrow, I’m sure they could, but it all comes down to money – what they want, and what others are willing to give. You can imagine those sponsors in talks will be looking for a cheaper deal given their branding won’t be getting taken abroad next season.
They could announce a partner for their pre-season tour of Australia and Asia in the meantime.
What’s happening in the striker department?
Chelsea will welcome back Nicolas Jackson from his Bayern Munich loan this summer, though it isn’t set in stone that he will stay. They have Jackson, Liam Delap, Emmanuel Emegha and Joao Pedro all as strikers. Too many. At least one should leave, and it will not be Joao Pedro.
We could technically even throw in the versatile Dastan Satpayev as he’s arriving this summer also from Kairat in Kazakhstan, though what happens next with him remains to be seen. He’ll be arriving in London next week and is in line to participate in pre-season training with Alonso.
I liked what I saw from Jackson against France in Senegal’s World Cup opener despite their defeat. A couple weeks back, I was told his club want to give him his chance in pre-season. That’s still the case as far as I’m aware. It helps his cause that he could also be used on the left wing if required. Personally, I’d keep Jackson and move on Delap.
Nicolas Jackson (right) was impressive against France in Senegal’s World Cup opener despite their defeat
Will Mike Penders stay?
That’s the suggestion, though Chelsea have yet to confirm their concrete plans for the goalkeeper position.
Penders would return from his loan with Strasbourg to compete with Robert Sanchez next season, with Filip Jorgensen having been told he is free to explore his options.
It just hasn’t worked the way Jorgensen wanted and unfortunately we’ll always have Paris to remember him by.
