Romelu Lukaku, Armando Broja, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Conor Gallagher, and Raheem Sterling are all key players for Chelsea. Today, we’re going to assess the entire Chelsea squad, determining who should be retained, sold, or loaned out. So, clear your schedule for the rest of the day.
Unlike our counterparts at Arsenal and Manchester United, who lack a significant number of Football Manager wonderkids in their squads, we didn’t consider loaning players from those teams. But feel free to read those analyses after you finish this one.
Starting with the goalkeepers:
Sell: Robert Sanchez
While this might be a contentious decision, Robert Sanchez has proven to be mediocre across the board, making frequent mistakes. With Chelsea having an abundance of goalkeepers, selling Sanchez is a logical move.
Hold on to: Djordje Petrovic
Last season, Djordje Petrovic impressed me more than Sanchez. He has shown promise and deserves to stay with the squad.
Marcus Bettinelli: Keep for squad numbers
We don’t mind Bettinelli remaining as part of the team to make up the numbers.
Loan: Lucas Bergstrom
It’s clear that Bergstrom will never be Chelsea’s starting goalkeeper. The club should either sell him immediately or loan him out to increase his market value.
Sell: Gabriel Slonina
Chelsea signed Slonina from MLS team Chicago Fire in 2022 and loaned him to Belgian side Eupen last year. However, this signing has been ineffective, especially with Petrovic, a former MLS player, being much better. Therefore, selling Slonina is a sensible decision.
Sell: Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa remains the most expensive goalkeeper in history but has never truly proven himself on the field. Following his loan spell at Real Madrid in 2023-2024, it’s time for Chelsea to part ways with him permanently.
Keep: Reece James
Despite his injury issues, Reece James is still Chelsea’s captain, and the club should retain some homegrown players instead of offloading them all. James is one of the world’s top right-backs when he’s fit, though injuries have often kept him from playing at his best. We hope he can restart his career in the upcoming season.
Hold on to: Malo Gusto
Since joining Chelsea in January of last year, Malo Gusto has played extensively due to James’ injury struggles. Despite a shaky debut, he has shown a lot of promise and should be kept.
Sell: Malang Sarr
Somehow, Chelsea has a contract with Sarr until 2025. It’s time to end this relationship for good.
Hold on to: Benoit Badiashile
Benoit Badiashile has been inconsistent since arriving from Monaco. However, given his potential, there’s no need to sell him just yet.
Hold on to: Axel Disasi
Disasi is similar to Badiashile in many ways. Determining which former Monaco player has more promise is challenging, but keeping Disasi is a prudent decision.
Keep: Levi Colwill
Maintaining Levi Colwill at the club makes perfect sense. Bayern Munich is reportedly interested in signing him, and while he would represent a significant profit, selling him would be detrimental. Chelsea worked hard to sign him to a new deal last summer, and letting him go now would be a mistake.
Sell: Trevoh Chalobah
Unfortunately, Levi Colwill is far superior to Trevoh “pure profit” Chalobah. With Chelsea already having many center backs and Tosin Adarabioyo potentially joining, selling Chalobah is an easy decision. He is a talented player who will contribute well wherever he goes.
Loan: Alfie Gilchrist
Alfie Gilchrist, though young, played a bit last season. A loan move to the Championship would benefit everyone involved. Leeds United is reportedly considering this option.
By making these strategic decisions, Chelsea can optimize their squad for the upcoming season, ensuring they have the right mix of talent, experience, and potential to compete at the highest level.
