The Blues will want to build on what is looking like a successful season as they mark their return to the Champions League
Chelsea will be as busy as ever making big-money signings, but they
will also be offloading players and using the loan market to increase
the value of their extensive pool of talent.
Hazard stays, Costa goes - Desailly
Antonio Conte will remain Chelsea's manager and is keen to make sure
that he builds a bright future for his club, who are looking almost
certain to win the Premier League and return to playing in the Champions
League next term.
The Blues are currently in the process of scouting talent, while
Conte is in regular communication with other decision makers at the club
over new players. The Italian is faced with a number of charges coming
into the last year or two of their contracts, but the boss wants the
league title in the bag before working on renewals.
Goal takes a complete overview of the first-team squad and who should
be kept, sold and for whom the club should at least entertain offers.
KEEP AT ALL COSTS
Eden Hazard - Chelsea's talisman isn't expecting to
leave London in the summer and his club want to keep him. Real Madrid
are interested in making him one of their trademark Galactico signings
but may find it hard to convince a player who is happy at Stamford
Bridge. Zinedine Zidane was Hazard's footballing idol growing up and the
former France captain is a huge admirer of the Belgian.
RUMOURS: Chelsea closing in on Lukaku
Andreas Christensen - It isn't an exaggeration to
say that Chelsea have one of the world's best under-21 defenders on
their books and Christensen is expected to return to Stamford Bridge in
the summer. He has spent two good years on loan at Borussia
Monchengladbach and, despite the Bundesliga club being desperate to keep
him, his parent club will likely bring him back.
Thibaut Courtois - Real Madrid have outlined
Courtois as their number one target for the summer - ahead of Hazard,
even - and will push to sign him. Chelsea are going to resist offers for
their number one goalkeeper and they will only be forced to sell the
shot-stopper if they receive an obscene offer from the Santiago
Bernabeu.
N'Golo Kante - His all-star displays in a Chelsea
shirt have led him to be a front runner for the PFA Player of the Year
award. Kante only signed for Chelsea in the summer and despite rumours
of Real Madrid being interested in his services, it is looking highly
unlikely that he will leave.
Cesar Azpilicueta - The Spain international renewed
his contract this season, tying him to the club until 2020. Azpilicueta
could find himself staying at Stamford Bridge until the end of his
career - he has been as consistent as anyone under Conte, who is a huge
fan of his defender's talents.
Cesc Fabregas - Fabregas' future was in doubt ahead
of the January transfer window as he struggled to break into the team
ahead of Matic and Kante. A lot of hard work in training and a good
attitude saw him eventually get recalled to the first team and Cesc has
since gotten key assists and goals for the club. The Spaniard is settled
in London and he will likely choose to stay for at least another year.
Nemanja Matic - Conte fought to keep Matic from the
clutches of Juventus in the summer and it has proven to be a smart
decision after he banished the nightmares of last season with
title-winning displays. Calm, simple and focused - Matic hasn't found
himself in the limelight for his performances this season but he has
been a key cog in Conte's winning machine. He will likely stay, although
his contract expires in June 2019 which might alert clubs to try their
luck with him.
Victor Moses - Moses extended his contract in March
to earn the pay-rise he deserved after becoming a first team regular
under Conte. His deal now runs until 2021 and he will likely be a
fixture of Chelsea's team for many years to come after being patient for
his chance.
Marcos Alonso - The wing-back has proved to be a
specialist at his duties in Conte's 3-4-3 formation this season and has
been an ever-present in the starting line up. Chelsea has been a step up
from Fiorentina since his £23 million move in the summer but he has
shown his quality in the blue shirt. There may be greater competition
for places as the Blues look for wing-backs in the summer, but Alonso
will be part of his boss' plans.
Kurt Zouma - The France international's career
should continue at Stamford Bridge but a large offer may tempt Chelsea.
He returned from his anterior cruciate ligament injury picked up last
season but has found consistent appearances hard to come by. Zouma
remains committed to the shirt but major clubs around Europe may be
tempted to test the water for a bright talent.
David Luiz - Chelsea's deadline day signing has
proved doubters wrong with consistent displays in what looks like a
title-winning season. His attributes make him uniquely suited to playing
in a 3-4-3 formation and Conte will likely look to Luiz for leadership
duties alongside the likes of Cahill and Fabregas.
Gary Cahill - He came in for criticism earlier in
the season but talks of his downfall came too soon. Cahill will stay at
Chelsea for many years to come and he will likely take over Terry's
captain duties if the skipper departs the club.
Nathaniel Chalobah - Chalobah is a shining example
to Chelsea's loan army of over 35 players. The England Under-21 star
returned from Napoli in the summer and he impressed Conte enough to give
him a spot in the first team. He hasn't been a regular but hopes remain
high.
Lewis Baker - The attacking midfielder has
undoubtedly emerged as Vitesse's best player and he is a key player for
England's Under-21 side. He could end his season having lifted the KNVB
Cup and he has made over 60 appearances for the Chelsea feeder club
since joining in 2015. The Blues should keep hold of this youngster but
he might need a spell in a more challenging division before returning to
the club on a full time basis.
Tammy Abraham - Chelsea won't look to sell one of
England's most talented young strikers who is scoring goals for fun
despite being at struggling Bristol City in the Championship. He has hit
21 goals for the season and broken records for teenage strikers in the
competitive division. There are high hopes that Abraham may have the
quality to make it at Stamford Bridge but it will likely be following
another year on loan.
Man City confident of signing Alexis
Izzy Brown - Brown has made his debut for Chelsea in
2015 but he hasn't played since. He is on his third successive loan
spell, at Huddersfield Town, having been at Vitesse and Rotherham.
Despite not earning as many of the headlines for his displays in the
Championship as Abraham, Brown has been very impressive this season and
put in quality performances on a weekly basis. The Blues could look to
promote Brown next season, but they may look for a Premier League loan
move to ensure that he is ready upon his return.
Willian - It has been a mixed year for Willian, who
looks set to win the Premier League title. However, he is increasingly
having to come off the bench with Pedro and Hazard in such good form. He
has been impressive when called upon and has said that he wants to end
his career at Stamford Bridge.
Diego Costa - Chelsea's top scorer should stay on
but there are question marks over his commitment to the club and there
are still doubts on whether he is comfortable living in England. He had
offers from the Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian in January
which left him unsettled and Atletico Madrid remain keen on re-signing
their former striker.
Jérémie Boga - The Frenchman has followed up a
successful loan spell at Rennes with another one in La Liga with
struggling Granada. He has been one of the club's brightest talents this
season and will likely be given more time to prove his worth.
John Terry - There are still doubts over whether the
Chelsea captain will remain at the club that he has been at for over 20
years, but Conte will at least consider renewing Terry's contract at
the end of the season. However, the veteran may decide to leave over a
lack of first-team opportunities, with interest in him high from Chinese
and English football clubs.
OPEN TO OFFERS
Michy Batshuayi - Chelsea had a good summer transfer
window in the main but their £33 million signing from Marseille has
hardly had a look in. Diego Costa's good form kept Batshuayi out, but
even as his performances dropped off the Belgian striker failed to get
his chance. Batshuayi won't want to face another season with few
opportunities coming his way and may look for a move. Plenty of clubs
from England, Italy and France will be interested in signing him; he
will likely leave on loan, however, rather than on a cut-price deal.
Asmir Begović - Chelsea's number two goalkeeper
almost moved in January with a £10 million offer from Bournemouth ready
to be accepted, subject to his club getting in a replacement. Begovic's
move collapsed as the Blues failed to convince Celtic into the sale of
Craig Gordon, but the honest goalkeeper is keen to get back to playing
football regularly.
WATCH: PL loan stars shine
Nathan Ake - Bournemouth are also very interested in
re-signing Ake after sampling his talents during his loan spell for the
first six months of the season. Ake is hugely respected by Eddie Howe
at the Cherries and they could even look for a permanent deal next time
around.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek - Loftus-Cheek has been held up
as the brightest English talent in Chelsea's academy but he may benefit
from a loan move next season. He has played well in his sporadic
appearances for the Blues this season but, as he develops into an
attacking midfielder, it has not been enough to dislodge Hazard and Co. -
Chalobah benefitted from his loan spells and the club may carefully
pick one for his talented team-mate.
Charly Musonda - Musonda is loved for his
YouTube-friendly talent and Conte is a fan of the youngster. However, he
hasn't been able to force his way into even the match day squad under
the Italian. Chelsea may be tempted to cash in for a big offer but they
will more likely loan him out.
Ola Aina - Chelsea still have high hopes for Ola
Aina who has made several appearances this season. Conte did look into
the possibility of loaning out Aina in January and he was unlucky not to
find a move. The club will be careful about not just accepting any loan
offer for the right-back, who is still in a position to make it at
Stamford Bridge.
Marco van Ginkel - PSV will try to re-sign Van
Ginkel next season on loan, or in a cut-price deal. Chelsea will be
reluctant to sell unless the offer is a profit on what they initially
paid, but other clubs may yet come in for the midfielder who has
continually impressed in the Eredivisie.
Mario Pašalić – On loan at AC Milan, the midfielder
has proved his quality in San Siro and Vincenzo Montella has been
impressed with the Croatian. Milan have the money to secure a
try-before-you-buy type deal for their loanee in the summer and they
might look to make his stay permanent.
PACK YOUR BAGS - YOU'RE OFF!
Dominic Solanke - Conte has been open that Solanke
will leave Chelsea in the summer. His contract expires at the end of the
season and he will likely move to another Premier League club. He has
won Chelsea Academy Player of The Year and England Youth Player of the
Year, but his career has stagnated after he failed to agree a new
contract with his boyhood club.
The race for the Golden Shoe
Loïc Rémy - Remy has just over a a year left on his
contract but will leave as long as someone can pay a nominal fee and his
wage. It is clear that Remy's future is not at Stamford Bridge and he
has failed to break into the Crystal Palace team, where he currently
plays, on a consistent basis.
Kenedy - Kenedy is part of Chelsea's first team
squad after being recalled from Watford due to injury. He has made only
one first-team appearance off the bench in the FA Cup and there is
little evidence that Conte wants to use him regularly. The Italian boss
may be tempted to cash in.
Christian Atsu - The Ghana international has just
over a year left on his current Chelsea contract and he is unlikely to
be signing a new deal. Chelsea will likely make a loss on him after
initially signing him for for £3.5 million from Porto in 2013.
