What could a brutal Chelsea squad overhaul look like this summer?

Chelsea’s 2025/26 season promised so much. Last term, Enzo Maresca led the club back to the top four while also adding the Conference League crown to the already overflowing Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet, ensuring that the Blues became the first team in history to claim all three of UEFA’s top prizes. He would then top the year off by upsetting Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final, winning 3-0 despite being massive underdogs at MetLife Stadium last summer. 

What a difference a year makes. 

Chelsea’s Disastrous Season 

Maresca was axed as soon as Chelsea found themselves in testing waters, sacked on New Year’s Day after a run of one win in nine. The much-maligned Liam Rosenior would then take over, and despite initially ushering in an upturn in form, things would immediately turn sour. A run of five straight Premier League defeats without scoring a single goal — the club’s worst run of form in 114 years —  coupled with some rather harsh comparisons to nerdy Inbetweeners character Will McKenzie, saw the end of the former Strasbourg boss, leaving interim manager Callum McFarlane in charge of the club until the end of the season. 

The temporary boss has already managed to lift spirits, helping the Blues to a 1-0 FA Cup semifinal victory against Leeds United at Wembley. But his side would immediately follow up that feel-good victory with a disastrous 3-1 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, drawing the ire of the Stamford Bridge faithful even further. He now has a final to look forward to under the arch, opposite a Manchester City team on the hunt for a domestic treble.

Online betting sites make McFarlane’s men a huge underdog for that upcoming finale. Websites allowing soccer betting with Bitcoin currently position them as a mighty 2/1 outsider to leave Wembley with the trophy, while Pep Guardiola’s juggernaut is the clear 2/5 frontrunner. 

So, after a disastrous year, it begs the question: Which of this current crop of Chelsea stars — a crop that has somehow cost a whopping £2 billion to assemble — should remain with the club next season? Well, if a dramatic overhaul were to happen this summer, here is what it could look like. 

Who Should Remain? 

For all their trials and tribulations this season, there can be no denying that the Blues do still have a strong core. Cole Palmer, despite his dramatic downturn in form this season, remains the jewel in the crown, and whichever manager is appointed in the summer must make getting the very best form out of the Englishman his number one priority. 

In midfield, Moises Caicedo remains one of the very best destroyer-like midfielders in the world, and he has arguably been the sole positive in Chelsea’s campaign. Alongside him, Enzo Fernandez would likely start in any midfield on the planet, despite his current standing with the Stamford Bridge fan base. 

Striker João Pedro has proven to be a revelation since arriving from Brighton last summer. He has netted 20 goals in all competitions so far this season, and should Palmer return to form next term, those two could provide a lethal double act at the top end of the pitch. 

Finally, captain Reece James remains the first name on the teamsheet, and that should continue well beyond next season. Teenage winger Estêvão is another who should certainly be given more opportunities and freedom next season. 

The Jury’s Out 

Chelsea have several players who are arguably deserving of one last chance. Levi Colwill has endured a miserable time with injuries this season, but with a full pre-season under his belt, he could come back better than ever next term. Both Andrey Santos and Roméo Lavia have also had decent spells of form and could still become worthy of the £60+ million the club forked out to secure their services. 

Fullbacks Jarrel Hato and Malo Gusto are two who have also managed to avoid criticism from Blues fans throughout this miserable season. They, too, should be given a chance to nail down their spots on either side of the Blues defence in 2026/27. 

The Clear Out 

Where do we start? The embarrassing backline, headed by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and defenders Trevor Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo, simply has to leave. You can add injury-prone defenders Wesley Fofana and Benoît Badiashile to that list as well, two men who cost a combined £100m for a paltry error-prone return. Young Josh Acheampong doesn’t look to be good enough to pull on the famous Chelsea Blue either. 

Marc Cucurella is another who is capable of brilliance; just one look at his displays in Spain’s successful Euro 2024 campaign confirms that. However, at the Bridge, he hasn’t been able to display that kind of form often enough, if at all. He, too, should be moved on. 

In attack, the Liam Delap experiment has proven to be a disaster, with the former Ipswich Town man netting just twice all season. Jamie Gittens arrived from Borussia Dortmund last summer but has offered very little. And there are special places in footballing hell reserved for Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto, who Chelsea fans have fully given up on after a seemingly never-ending slew of disaster-classes. Facilitating their departures should be the first order of business for whoever steps into the Blues’ hot seat this summer.