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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Jacob Steinberg

Keep or sell? Chelsea’s squad and what should happen to them this summer

Left to right: Reece James, N'Golo Kanté, Mason Mount, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Kai Havertz, Kepa Arrizabalaga, César Azpilicueta.
Left to right: Reece James, N'Golo Kanté, Mason Mount, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Kai Havertz, Kepa Arrizabalaga, César Azpilicueta. Composite: Reuters, Getty

Keep

Marcus Bettinelli The third-choice goalkeeper recently signed a new deal. He is a low-maintenance member of the squad.

Thiago Silva The 38-year-old has signed a new deal and is going nowhere but is not quick enough to play in a back four and will give Chelsea’s next manager a tactical conundrum.

Thiago Silva
At 38, Thiago Silva needs the right system to thrive at Chelsea. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Benoît Badiashile The 22-year-old centre-back has shown promise since joining from Monaco in January. He deserves a chance to establish himself.

Wesley Fofana An inconsistent, injury-hit first season. But the former Leicester defender has a high ceiling. He will flourish in a settled team.

Reece James The right-back would walk into every team in Europe. He is Chelsea’s most important player.

Ben Chilwell Impressive since returning from a torn hamstring. The left-back offers plenty of drive and has signed a new deal.

Enzo Fernández He does not look worth £106.8m but the Argentina midfielder remains a talent. The 22-year-old needs to adapt to English football.

Enzo Fernández plays against Real Madrid in the Champions League
Enzo Fernández has not looked worth his £106.8m transfer fee. Photograph: Laurent Lairys/DPPI/Shutterstock

N’Golo Kanté Chelsea must avoid losing the midfielder on a free this summer. Kanté is still an asset when fit.

Mykhailo Mudryk The Ukraine winger joined in January. Yet to make an impact but the 22-year-old has raw ability. Needs a run in the team.

Noni Madueke The England Under-21 international was one of the few positives against Arsenal on Tuesday. Scored a good goal. One of the January intake.

Carney Chukwuemeka The 19-year-old midfielder could be forgiven for wondering why he joined Chelsea. He needs a loan next season.

Armando Broja The striker will be back from a long-term knee injury soon. He will hope for a chance to push on.

David Datro Fofana Another of the January intake. The 20-year-old striker has barely played but there is no point selling him.

Up in the air

Levi Colwill Chelsea must give the defender opportunities when he returns from his loan at Brighton. There is a lot of interest in him.

Marc Cucurella Will Chelsea want the left-back to block Ian Maatsen’s pathway? The problem is they could be stuck with the £62m Spaniard.

Mason Mount and Marc Cucurella
Mason Mount and Marc Cucurella have their Chelsea futures in doubt. Photograph: Irina R Hipolito/AFP7/Shutterstock

Mason Mount Entering the final year of his deal and wanted by several top clubs. But Chelsea should be doing all they can to keep the midfielder.

Mateo Kovacic The midfielder’s contract expires next year, he looks unhappy and his fitness is a concern. But a new manager could lean on his experience.

Raheem Sterling A hugely disappointing first season. He is on big wages and could be hard to sell. Being pragmatic, he could be worth another look.

Sell

Kepa Arrizabalaga The goalkeeper has had a decent season but he remains unconvincing. Chelsea need a new No 1. Arrizabalaga will not want to be back-up again.

Édouard Mendy The Senegal No 1 turned down a new contract and has lost his place. Should be moved on if replacements are found.

Édouard Mendy of Chelsea
Édouard Mendy has lost his place to Arrizabalaga in recent months and could move on. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

César Azpilicueta The captain should have been allowed to join Barcelona last summer. Too slow and Malo Gusto is coming in to challenge James.

Kalidou Koulibaly The experienced centre-back’s move from Napoli has not worked out. On big wages but a return to Italy would make sense.

Trevoh Chalobah Versatile and committed but yet to establish himself as a regular. The 23-year-old centre-back will be a good signing for someone.

Conor Gallagher The midfielder should move on for the sake of his career. A good player but there is too much competition at Chelsea.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek Injuries have prevented the midfielder from maximising his potential. At 27, he needs to think about finding a fresh opportunity.

Christian Pulisic
Injuries have hampered Christian Pulisic but the USA forward has been disappointing at Stamford Bridge. Photograph: John Patrick Fletcher/Action Plus/Shutterstock

Callum Hudson-Odoi The winger has had a poor loan at Bayer Leverkusen. Will need convincing not to sit out the final year of his lucrative contract.

Christian Pulisic The USA winger is injury prone and inconsistent. He has been at Chelsea for four years and has rarely looked like making it.

Hakim Ziyech Tried to join Paris Saint-Germain in January, only for botched paperwork to scotch the deal. The playmaker’s face no longer fits.

Kai Havertz The German has two years left on his deal, is restless and has not fulfilled his potential. Place could be threatened by Christopher Nkunku.

João Félix plays a pass against Brighton in the Premier League
The loan signing of João Félix from Atlético Madrid and not worked out and he will surely return to Spain in the summer. Photograph: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC/Getty Images

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Both parties need to find a way out of this relationship. The striker’s deal has a year to go.

Romelu Lukaku Remains to be seen whether Inter want another year of the striker on loan. If not then Chelsea have a problem.

Don’t sign

João Félix The forward has offered flashes of talent since joining on loan from Atlético Madrid but he has not produced enough.

Denis Zakaria The midfielder has had some decent games after coming on loan from Juventus but he has barely featured since January.

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