I believe we are going to see a bit of a defensive rebuild at Chelsea in the next two transfer windows.
I am including this window because Chelsea are trying to buy a centre back in January, but most of it I can see happening in the summer.
We heard yesterday about the crossroads moments for Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adabrabioyo in the summer, both with two years left on their deals. But there are other defenders who I believe could leave pretty soon. If not the summer of 2026, then very soon after that.
Wesley Fofana has eyes on a return to Marseille and is injury prone. It’s not really on Chelsea’s side this one, as I think they’d be OK to keep him for now. But I can see him pushing for a move in the summer.
Chalobah and Tosin we spoke about and I can see both of them being sold. Benoit Badiashile is just not good enough and needs to be sold, and I think he will be.
And Marc Cucurella is the other one. I’ve reported the interest coming in for him for the summer, and I can actually see him being sold and replaced in the summer. Just a feeling.
There’s even still question marks over the goalkeeper and whether Chelsea go for a new one. So, we could be looking at a huge defensive rebuild.
Malo Gusto also has interest from Bayern Munich and other clubs, but I’ve yet to hear anything to suggest Chelsea would entertain a sale.
Chelsea are obviously trying to sign Jeremy Jacquet this window. So it could be him coming in, then you’ve got Mamadou Sarr who is rated very highly at the club, coming in this summer to be part of the first team squad. Aaron Anselmino has been doing very well this season so he could push for a place too. Our very own Josh Acheampong too, who I keep being told is a key part of the project and our first team plans. And then Levi Colwill coming back from injury, who will spearhead this potentially new back line.
I’m not saying this is what our new defence will look like, this is just what I can see happening and naming the ones already on our books who the club have high hopes for.
Let’s see what happens in the summer, this is all very speculative from me of course.
Simon Phillips
