Chelsea could release entire XI good enough to challenge for Europe before window shuts

With 24 days remaining until the transfer window slams shut, Chelsea still have plenty of work to do.

Their summer spending so far is in and around the £300million mark, with a large chunk of this coming via the £117m signing of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa.

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Geovany Quenda and Emmanuel Emegha have joined in pre-agreed deals, with Marco Palestra, Maxence Lacroix, Danny Welbeck, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson also through the door.

However, the numerous additions mean that the Chelsea first team squad has only increased in size, with 46 players listed in the squad on their website.

It’s an eye-opening number for a club void of European football this season, though many of those listed are academy talents who are on their pre-season tour such as Reggie Walsh and Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli.

Xabi Alonso has not specified how big he wants his squad to be, but he is unlikely to want a bloated team that could risk squad harmony.

Various players currently on the books have been linked with exits, and talkSPORT.com has selected a hypothetical XI that, on paper, could contend for European qualification in the Premier League.

Filip Jorgensen

Having been the second-choice goalkeeper to Robert Sanchez for much of his Chelsea career, Jorgensen is closing in on a departure.

He left their pre-season tour amid transfer interest, with sister club Strasbourg understood to be an option for the 24-year-old, who was linked with a move in January.

Jorgensen is also a Denmark international who will likely be looking for more consistent minutes in between the sticks.

Axel Disasi

The first half of the 2025/26 season was quiet for Disasi, but he was back on the pitch at West Ham United with a winter loan move.

Although the Hammers were relegated from the Premier League, the French defender made a good impression in east London and is not short of interest as September 1 approaches.

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AC Milan and Roma are understood to have shown interest in Disasi, and Crystal Palace is another speculated destination for the centre-back, who can also play as a right-back.

Tosin Adarabioyo

Another defender who could be heading out of Stamford Bridge is Tosin, who could have done better to deny Tottenham Hotspur the winning goal in their pre-season friendly last week.

His appearances last season were sporadic, and many of these came as a substitute amid competition from Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah and Jorrel Hato.

However, with 116 Premier League outings to his name, the 28-year-old would add a depth of experience to any back line should he leave.

Benoit Badiashile

Chelsea’s FA Cup fifth round victory against Wrexham on March 7 is the most recent match that Badiashile has played for the club.

The defender has featured just 13 times over the past two seasons and dealt with various fitness issues that have kept him sidelined.

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Badiashile is only 25, though, and reports have linked him with Serie A runners-up Napoli, a move that could initially see him join on loan before a permanent switch.

Malo Gusto

It was always going to be difficult for Gusto to hold down the right-back spot when club captain Reece James returned to full fitness.

Premier League rivals Manchester City are understood to be keen on the French full-back, who mostly plays on the right-hand side but can feature at left-back if needed.

Chelsea are understood to value Gusto at £75m and, even though a sale is not being actively looked at, it is possible this summer.

Pedro Neto

Enzo Maresca is seemingly eyeing some Chelsea reunions as the new City boss, with Neto another player to be linked with a switch.

With Rogers and Quenda through the door, Cole Palmer hoping to hit the ground running and Estevao Willian remaining an exciting prospect, the competition for places out wide is strong.

Neto could cost City in the region of £70m, while Liverpool have also emerged as a speculated new club for the Portuguese international.

Enzo Fernandez

Completing the hat-trick of Chelsea to City transfer speculation is Fernandez, whose future in west London has been uncertain for a matter of months now.

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After fuelling rumours of a move to Real Madrid, they released a statement to shut down any perceived interest by saying they have ‘no intention’ of signing him.

City interest in 2022 World Cup winner Fernandez was reported by talkSPORT in April and, with Rodri looking set to leave for Barcelona, this could certainly open the door for a transfer.

Dario Essugo

A thigh injury meant Essugo made a limited number of appearances in his debut season at Chelsea.

The 21-year-old ex-Sporting midfielder is a player who would certainly benefit from consistent minutes away from the club with a loan spell which, as per the BBC, he is open to.

Essugo has featured in all three of their pre-season fixtures thus far but with Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Fernandez and new man Barco all midfield options, a temporary exit may be wise.

Mykhailo Mudryk

The Football Association announced on July 31 that Mudryk can play for Chelsea once again after the resolution of his anti-doping disciplinary proceedings.

Mudryk’s last competitive appearance came in November 2024 and, after months of work to maintain his fitness away from the club, he was a late substitute against Juventus earlier this week.

Coventry City, managed by Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, are among the clubs interested in the winger, who remains electric on the wing.

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Liam Delap

Chelsea were unable to see the best of Delap in his first season after his move from Ipswich Town, where he had become an exciting prospect in English football.

He found the back of the net on just one occasion in the league over 28 appearances, with Joao Pedro being the more impressive striker.

Despite his poor campaign, Delap remained a handful for defenders, has a physical presence up front, and Premier League interest in his services.

Nicolas Jackson

Bayern Munich signed Jackson on loan for the 2025/26 season and he was part of their Bundesliga title triumph alongside Harry Kane, scoring 11 goals in 34 appearances throughout the campaign.

He could have joined them permanently for around £56m, but the conditions to activate the obligation to buy were not met and he is back at Chelsea.

Jackson is on the pre-season tour but has been linked with Villa and Spurs, and is under consideration for an exit.

On paper, this team looks as though it would have a real crack at pushing for European qualification if it played in the Premier League.

However, the Champions League would be a real challenge, so it may have more success in reaching the Europa League or Conference League, depending on the number of qualifying spots for each.