Chelsea Summer Transfer Window Update: A Sunday Briefing

As we all know, it is a huge summer transfer window ahead for Chelsea, as they begin what will hopefully be a long term (and successful) era under new manager Xabi Alonso.

On Friday, we updated you with a transfer briefing on the latest news regarding both incomings and outgoings at Stamford Bridge. If you want to go back and read that article, you can do so by clicking here.

Well, let’s now give you a Sunday transfer briefing too.

Let’s begin with Nizaar Kinsella’s column for the BBC. He says that, whilst Chelsea are not actively looking to sell Wesley Fofana, he is not a player that is deemed untouchable by the club.

Indeed, Kinsella reports that, from the current crop of central defenders, only Josh Acheampong and Levi Colwill — with the club looking to find a Premier League ready made partner for the latter — are deemed untouchable, meaning Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chaloba and Tosin are all candidates for sale, whilst Mamdou Sarr remains “highly regarded”. 

As for the potential partner for Colwill, the article says that checks were made on Ibrahima Konate before he swapped Liverpool for Real Madrid, and mentioned the link to Jan Paul van Hecke before he went to Spurs.

From players that have not moved on, he name drops Maxence Lacroix of Crystal Palace, and Murillo of Nottingham Forest. Though it is worth keeping in mind that, like Colwill, Murillo is also left footed.

Encouraging, Kinsella states that Alonso will have a “huge say” in transfers this summer. He also mentions that the three traits are being targeted with incoming: Physicality, quality, and leadership skills.

The last one is perhaps poignant. Chelsea have been known to just sign young players in recent years, and the average age of the squad particularly tumbled when a then 39-year old Thiago Silva departed the club to join Brazilian side Fluminense back in 2024.

Then, when you consider that one of the most experienced players in the squad - both in body work and age - in Marc Cucurella has just left the club, there must be an even bigger emphasis to bring leaders in this summer. 

Meanwhile, to finish off, Bobby Vincent is reporting that there is no truth regarding links to: John Stones, Florian Wirtz, Ethan Nwaneri or Lucas Bergvall. The latter is particularly prominent to knock back, considering David Ornstein today said he wants to leave Spurs.