The gripping Premier League 2024–25 season is only weeks away from kicking off, and Chelsea are underway with their pre-season preparations for the upcoming campaign, led by newly appointed head coach Enzo Maresca and his backroom staff from Leicester City following their EFL Championship triumph in the 2023–24 season.
With the arrival of new motivated coaching staff, Chelsea aims to overturn their misfortune and surpass their feats and achievements from previous campaigns, despite spending over £1 billion on transfers following the Todd Boehly-led consortium ownership takeover in 2022.
Enzo Maresca, the newly appointed manager, has taken charge of the team during the pre-season as the successor of Mauricio Pochettinho. The Italian has already spent weeks at Cobham working with players to understand his squad before heading to their pre-season USA Tour in 2024.
He has been closely working on squad refinement by analyzing the squad and implementing his vision, ideology, and style of play in training sessions. For Maresca, his first assignment is a five-game friendly series on the USA summer tour.
With the 44-year-old Italian tactician on the sidelines at the helm of his first match as coach, Chelsea salvaged a 2-2 draw against League One side Wrexham at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Whereas, the second fixture brought a wave of frustration to Chelsea camp as they suffered an embarrassing 4-1 defeat at the hands of Celtic, managed by Brendon Rodgers, at Norte Dame Stadium in Indiana on Saturday.
Chelsea are working actively on their recruitment across various positions; until now, they have signed some exciting players, and many more names are being linked with a move to Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, the club hierarchy is working closely on offloading some surplus players from the squad, including some top-earning players. These players could exit the club in one way or another; with Ian Maatsen being permanently sold to Aston Villa, others could follow the same path.
This article will discuss the potential names that may depart from Stamford Bridge during this transfer window.
Conor Gallagher
Conor Gallagher is the first prominent name on the list of potential graduates this summer. The English international played a pivotal role under Mauricio Pochettinho, acting as a commanding figure in the midfield and captaining his side on a number of occasions.
In the 2023–24 campaign, Gallagher made a staggering 50 appearances, clocking the most minutes of game time, and recorded 7 goals and 9 assists across all competitions. He was also part of the Three Lions’s Euro 2024 contingent, appearing five times in the tournament.
However, the Blues are also considering selling their homegrown midfielder to generate profits with just one year remaining on his current contract. The arrival of Kiernan Dewsbury Hall from Leicester puts his midfield role in doubt under Enzo Maresca.
Interestingly, the 24-year-old has garnered avid interest from Atletico Madrid—tthe La Liga club discussed with the Chelsea board a move for Gallagher to the Spanish capital, as he is touted as having an ideal profile to thrive under Diego Simeone.
Trevoh Chalobah
After missing the entire initial half of the 2023–24 campaign due to a hamstring injury, the center-back featured in 13 league matches, gradually regained his confidence, and steadily established himself in the defense under Pochettinho’s guidance during the second half of the season.
In a recent turn of events, the 25-year-old was axed from the Chelsea squad for the USA 2024 pre-season tour, despite being part of the new manager’s training module at Cobham earlier this month.
His absence in the defensive ranks amongst the likes of Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi, Benoît Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, and young prospect Josh Acheampong—aall placed ahead of Chalobah in pecking order—raises serious doubts regarding his future in Enzo Maresca’s reign.
Last summer, Chalobah received several offers from Premier League clubs, seeking a permanent move away from Stamford Bridge, regardless of whether England Youth International stayed loyal to the Blues. However, the current scenario suggests a high possibility of Trevor Chalobah parting ways with his boyhood club in the summer, with growing interest from Manchester United, Fulham, and Crystal Palace.
Ben Chillwell
The third big name on the clear-out list is Ben Chillwell, one of the highest wage earners at Chelsea. The major reason for scrutiny over his future is his injury track record, which has refrained his involvement on the field in the last few.
The 27-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge from Leicester City in 2020 and has played 106 matches in Chelsea’s colors. At this crucial point in his career, Chillwell needs to get back to his best and revive his career after being disrupted by prolonged serious injury and fitness constraints.
The left-back still has the opportunity to impress Enzo Mareca on a pre-season tour and establish himself as a defender who possesses all the desired qualities of a modern full-back and can also easily delve into the Italian manager’s inverted full-back role.
However, Marc Cuccurella’s phenomenal European Championship campaign and current form could make him a preferred choice for the manager over Chillwell. The England international needs to keep himself intact for the season, and winning the trust of Maresca would be his primary aim.
Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku and Chelsea’s bittersweet association could finally witness its end this summer. In 2021, the Belgian international’s sensational £100 million transfer failed to work out, prompting him to spend his previous two campaigns on loan at Inter Milan and As Roma, respectively.
The 31-year-old striker’s current contract with Chelsea is set to expire in 2026; he has two more years left on his contract. However, it’s practically confirmed that the former Inter Milan forward won’t be staying at Stamford Bridge next season.
Understandably, Chelsea are open to trading him for a good price, with interest flooding in from Serie A and the Suadi Pro League following a fantastic loan spell in Italian Captial at Roma. During the 2023–24 campaign, Lukaku amassed 21 goals and 4 assists in 47 appearances for Roma.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa Arrizabalaga also plied his trades on loan in the Spanish capital. Overall, it was a stellar season for the Spaniard in terms of silverware, lifting the Spanish Super Cup, La Liga title, and Champions League. After making successive starts for Real Madrid, in due course of the season, he lost his first-eleven spot to Andryn Lunin and later to former Chelsea keeper Tibo Courtiues.
Yet, the Spaniard received ample opportunities under Carlo Ancelloti; despite being the third-choice keeper, he managed to play 20 times for the La Liga club, which includes 19 starts and single substitute appearances across all competitions.
With one year left on his Chelsea contract, Kepa has no desire to continue with the West London club, as he seeks to return to his home country, preferably to La Liga, after a successful short stint with Los Blancos.
Meanwhile, Chelsea also have no intentions to accommodate the 29-year-old, who has enough firepower in the goalkeeping department with Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic, and the latest keeper from Villareal’s Filip Jörgensen is set to join the club in a few a few days.
