The players Chelsea should look to SELL and who they must KEEP at the club | OneFootball

The size of Chelsea’s squad has become a big talking point since their current owners took over. Tiresome though the debate may be, the changing rooms at Stamford Bridge have admittedly gotten a bit tight after with the influx of players that have arrived at the club.

Enzo Maresca has made a good start to life at the club and must now shape his squad into one which he believes can challenge right at the top.

With the January transfer window just around the corner, who do the Blues need to offload and who should they keep? Here is our verdict…

Robert Sanchez – Sell

Chelsea have two capable keepers on the books, but arguably neither is good enough for the number one spot. Sanchez is a good shot stopper but has made too many mistakes and could make way for someone better if Chelsea are to improve.

Filip Jorgensen – Sell

Jorgensen has not received much opportunity to impress since his summer arrival but has failed to show he can play the way Maresca wants his goalkeepers to when he has been given a chance. It will be interesting to see how much of his seven-year contract he completes.

Marcus Bettinelli – Keep

Ask just about any Chelsea player who their favourite member of the squad is and they will probably name Bettinelli. As with any third choice goalkeeper, he is unlikely ever to see the pitch and is around, more than anything, for the vibes. He seems to be doing a great job in that regard, why not keep him around?

Lucas Bergstrom – Keep

Bergstrom’s only two appearances so far this season have come in Chelsea’s U21s and he failed to keep a clean sheet in either. This is far from enough evidence to judge him by, and he will need time to develop before fans can pass verdict.

Levi Colwill – Keep

He has gone from strength to strength since an incredibly successful loan spell at Brighton in the 2022/23 season and will be a first-class player for many years to come.

Axel Disasi – Sell

It is difficult to see Disasi as anything more than a back-up option. His love for the club and passion for the game as seen at Selhurst Park last season is admirable, but his level is just not quite high enough.

Benoit Badiashile – Sell

See above. Badiashile is another player who seems destined to play weeknight Carabao Cup and Conference League matches until his contract expires. His reputation among supporters has plummeted since he first signed because of some big errors.

Wesley Fofana – Keep

One of the pleasures of this season has been that Chelsea fans are finally getting to watch Fofana consistently. After struggling with injury constantly since signing from Leicester in 2022, he has established himself as a starter and supporters are being reminded why Chelsea paid £70m for him.

Tosin Adarabioyo – Keep

Adarabioyo has been solid enough since signing on a free from Fulham in the summer. He is a strong depth option and looks far more likely to crack the starting XI than some of his defensive colleagues.

Renato Veiga – Keep

Veiga has quickly endeared himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful with his physicality, versatility, and passion. Currently mired in the B-team, do not be surprised to see him as a Premier League regular in the future.

Marc Cucurella – Keep

As with Fofana, Cucurella has been something of a slow burner and Chelsea fans are only now starting to see the best of him two years after he signed. He totally neutralised Bukayo Saka in last week’s London derby with Arsenal and deserves huge credit for how he has turned his Chelsea career around.

Ben Chilwell – Sell

Chilwell has suffered an astonishing fall from grace since helping Chelsea to the Champions League title in 2021. Maresca clearly has no plan for him and the best thing for all parties would be for the left back to find greener pastures.

Reece James – Keep

James has endured a nightmare couple of seasons with injuries but has finally recovered and has been back in the team of late. When fit, he is one of the best right-backs in Europe and Chelsea fans will be praying he can stay healthy this time.

Malo Gusto – Keep

Initially signed as injury cover for James, Gusto has become a fan favourite, playing with confidence and quality far beyond his years.

Moises Caicedo – Keep

Caicedo is going from strength to strength this season, dominating in the Chelsea midfield whenever he plays. He is finally starting to live up to his huge price tag and has perhaps been the club’s best player so far this season.

Romeo Lavia – Keep

The same can be said for Lavia as so many players in this list. When fit, he is a terrific talent, but he has struggled massively with injuries since signing. But he finally seems to have worked his way back to fitness and is impressing.

Enzo Fernandez – Sell

Unlike Caicedo, Fernandez could not be further from justifying the huge sum spent on him, struggling for form and looking out of place since signing. He is now arguably surplus to requirements having found himself behind Lavia and Caicedo in the pecking order and the time for Chelsea to cut their losses and is not far away.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – Sell

Signed in the wake of Conor Gallagher’s departure, many supporters wondered what Dewsbury-Hall would offer to the Chelsea squad. Sadly, many are still asking that same question.

Carney Chukwuemeka – Sell

It is sad to think what might have been for Chukwuemeka had he not been injured so soon after scoring his first Chelsea goal at West Ham just over a year ago. Evidently not in Maresca’s long term plans, the best thing for him may be to move him on despite his potential.

Cesare Casadei – Sell

Chelsea are yet to see much of the potential they paid for. A disappointing loan spell at Leicester went nowhere and was ended early, and it is hard to see him establishing himself at Chelsea.

Cole Palmer – Keep

Not much more to say than that, really. Palmer has been Chelsea’s talisman since his move from Manchester City and has established himself as one of the Premier League’s best players.

Christopher Nkunku – Keep

Nkunku is one of the biggest problems facing Maresca. Where does he fit into a team which features so much attacking talent? He is far too good for the B-team and Maresca must find a way to give him more opportunity or risks losing him.

Mykhailo Mudryk – Keep

Mykhailo Mudryk is one of the most divisive Chelsea players in recent memory. He has enormous potential with his lightning pace and skill, but continues to struggle with his decision making. Chelsea should persist, however.

Jadon Sancho – Sell

When first brought in, many Chelsea faithful wondered what Chelsea were doing buying the Man Utd outcast. His strong debut raised hopes but it is difficult to see how he fits in long-term when the alternative options in his position are better.

Pedro Neto – Keep

Neto has quickly endeared himself to Stamford Bridge with his lightning pace, electric dribbling, and clinical shooting. That wonder goal against Arsenal showed what he is capable of.

Noni Madueke – Sell

A hat-trick against Wolves earlier this season showed what he is capable of but with plenty of talent in his position in the squad, the onus will be on him to prove more consistently that he can be a big part of this Chelsea team moving forward.

Joao Felix – Keep

Currently confined to cup competitions with Chelea’s second string, Felix cannot be far away from making Premier League starts, though he is in the unenviable position of competing with Nkunku and Palmer for minutes.

Nicolas Jackson – Keep

The closest thing Chelsea have had to a consistently competent striker since Diego Costa left. Many forget that he is just 23 years old and will only keep improving.

Deivid Washington – Sell

Trapped in the space between first team and dev squad, it is hard to see Washington making it into the team with the amount of competition.

Marc Guiu – Keep

Few bad players come out of La Masia, and Guiu is no different. Having scored his first competitive Chelsea goal last week against FC Noah, there will be plenty more to come for the 18-year-old.