Chelsea Must Offload These Six Players Before Summer Ends

Frustration and disconnection have characterized Chelsea's 2025–26 campaign, despite what appeared to be a bright trajectory during Enzo Maresca's debut year at the club.

Amid reports of growing tension behind closed doors, the Italian abruptly left midway through his second season and is reportedly being considered by Manchester City as a possible successor to Pep Guardiola. The title-chasing Cityzens meet Chelsea in next month's FA Cup final, which could provide the Blues with some comfort in an otherwise deeply disappointing year.

The depth of supporter frustration has sparked renewed protests in west London, with BlueCo's ownership bearing the brunt of the criticism. Significant financial investment has yielded little in return, and Chelsea fans have grown weary of the club's aimless direction.

In a recent interview, co-owner Behdad Eghbali acknowledged that a strategic rethink may be necessary, but regardless of which direction Chelsea choose going forward, certain players simply have no place wearing the shirt of the five-time Premier League champions.

Here are six players Chelsea should offload this summer, excluding those who spent 2025–26 away on loan—such as Nicolas Jackson.

Robert Sánchez

On paper, Robert Sánchez has delivered a solid Premier League season. There's little to indicate that the Spaniard is the problem, or that he needs to be moved on at the earliest opportunity.

Chelsea certainly have more pressing concerns, and Sánchez demonstrated his value in their FA Cup semifinal win over Leeds United. He has shown stretches of form that have persuaded some he could be a long-term option, including last summer at the Club World Cup. Yet, surely there's enough evidence to suggest the Spaniard remains a position worth upgrading?

Unforced errors and lapses in distribution seem to undermine any periods of stability, with the next Sánchez blunder, however significant, never feeling far off. He's not a poor goalkeeper and would likely start for many Premier League sides, but Chelsea's ambitions demand more.

If Mike Maignan becomes available again, you pursue him without hesitation. Retaining your current No. 1 in that scenario only creates unnecessary friction.

Wesley Fofana

Chelsea paid up to $95 million (£70 million) to sign Leicester City's Wesley Fofana in 2022, yet the French defender has struggled to justify that hefty investment.

Fofana came through at Saint-Étienne alongside William Saliba, and at the time there was genuine debate over who the more gifted French centre-back was. Fofana can be excellent, but he lacks Saliba's composed consistency.

Injuries have disrupted his time in west London, though he has been largely available throughout 2025–26. Rather than establishing himself as the anchor of Chelsea's backline, however, Fofana has battled disciplinary issues and has become more of a source of instability than assurance.

Trevoh Chalobah has surpassed him and could partner Levi Colwill in 2026–27. Backup cover behind those two will be needed, but Chelsea should entertain offers for Fofana before his contract situation becomes complicated. Turning down a strong bid would be unwise, even if recouping anything close to his original fee four years on seems highly unlikely.

Benoît Badiashile

Another Ligue 1 defensive recruit, Benoît Badiashile has rarely featured as a regular starter at Stamford Bridge.

The once-promising former Monaco centre-back never earned Enzo Maresca's confidence, with most of his appearances coming in the Conference League last season. Injury problems have also played a role, though not to the same degree as Fofana, and the disruptions have prevented Badiashile from finding any real consistency.

He offers physicality and composure in possession, but a brief upturn under Liam Rosenior quickly faded, and his career now stands at a crossroads. Opportunities at Chelsea are unlikely to be plentiful, so the 25-year-old would be better served seeking a fresh start elsewhere.

There's undeniable ability there, but it simply hasn't clicked at Chelsea. Fortunately, this particular gamble didn't come at too great a cost.

Alejandro Garnacho

The array of wingers Chelsea have assembled since BlueCo's arrival, despite the enormous sums spent, is quite staggering. The underwhelming group offers a flicker of genuine promise in Estêvão, but little else. Pedro Neto's intensity and encouraging FA Cup displays don't quite lift him out of the realm of the ordinary.

That said, at least Neto gives supporters something to believe in. Alejandro Garnacho, by contrast, is a difficult player to truly get excited about.

There's a youthful boldness and confidence that can be appreciated, and Garnacho can look dangerous when his side are breaking at pace. He thrives in open space and can cleverly manufacture it through intelligent movement off the ball. Yet the Argentine has fundamental shortcomings in other areas and has largely failed to develop since his initial emergence at Manchester United.

His 12 goal contributions across all competitions this season isn't disastrous, even if few have come in decisive moments. He's locked into a seven-year contract after arriving for $54 million (£40 million) last summer, but Chelsea could move him on after just one year. They require genuine match-winners on the flanks.

Perhaps Napoli retain their interest? Saudi clubs could offer an alternative exit route.

Marc Guiu

Former Barcelona forward Marc Guiu was originally set to spend 2025–26 on loan at Sunderland, but an injury crisis at Chelsea saw him recalled before the summer transfer window closed.

Guiu has now spent a couple of seasons at Stamford Bridge functioning as a third-choice striker. He has contributed very little in a Chelsea shirt, though the club did take a calculated punt on him back in 2024.

Barcelona rarely release La Masia products unless they're confident in the decision, and they're unlikely to be losing sleep over selling Guiu for a modest fee, even as striker depth has since become an issue.

Life in London may have its appeal, but Guiu, still just 20, must be eager to kickstart his career somewhere. That somewhere won't be Chelsea.

Liam Delap

With Maresca now long departed, there's a possibility Nicolas Jackson returns to west London, given that Bayern Munich are unlikely to make his loan move permanent this summer.

Most would agree that the Senegalese striker is a step above England's supposed next great goalscoring hope, Liam Delap, wouldn't they?

Delap arrived on the back of a standout debut Premier League campaign with Ipswich Town, but he flourished in a side built around transitions. Chelsea once thrived on the counter-attack, but BlueCo favour a possession-based approach. They seek managers who impose control, however laboured the build-up play can sometimes be.

The Englishman simply doesn't fit that system. He's an imposing physical presence but lacks the technical refinement needed to operate as the focal point of Chelsea's attack, in the mould of João Pedro. Delap is an entirely different type of striker, though some will contend the club should not abandon him prematurely.

There is room for growth under a new manager, naturally. But the early indications suggest Delap may not be equipped for the demands of life at Stamford Bridge.