Seven key players who could leave Chelsea this summer - and what the Blues could get for them

Chelsea may face a difficult summer ahead if the Blues fail to qualify for Champions League football for next season.

It goes without saying that there are high expectations at Stamford Bridge and after their extortionate spending under BlueCo in recent years, there would be major outrage if the west London outfit were to finish in their current position of sixth place and fail to reach Europe’s premier club competition for 2026/27.

There is still time to resurrect this amidst the struggles of rivals Liverpool and Aston Villa in recent weeks, but whispers are already beginning to grow that there could be major movement in the transfer market this summer. Not just when it comes to incomings, either, as the Blues could see some big-name players depart the club. We had a look at a few of the candidates ahead of the summer window.

Enzo Fernández headlines Chelsea exit rumours - and could Cole Palmer leave?

The name hitting the headlines when it comes to Chelsea player exits at present is Enzo Fernández. The Argentine cast doubt over his future at Stamford Bridge during an interview while away on international duty, and did not rule out an exit following the World Cup this summer.

“We’ll see after the World Cup,” said Fernandez. “We've had zero talks as of now. Honestly, nothing yet [with Real Madrid]. Now I am focused on Chelsea and what’s left in the last few games this season.”

Recent reports by The Athletic have only fuelled these exit rumours further, suggesting that due to transfer fee amortisation, Chelsea could receive a fee of £75million next summer and avoid registering a loss on the books for the 25-year-old, who they signed for £106m in 2023. With the likes of Real Madrid and PSG sniffing around and the La Liga giants viewed as a ‘dream’ move for the Argentine as per talkSPORT, it is possible that the player might just push for an exit if Chelsea fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Another Chelsea superstar who has been linked with a stunning exit in recent months is Cole Palmer. He has been touted as the ideal successor to Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United, with staggering transfer fees of £120m to £150m doing the rounds. Reports by The Sun in January that Palmer is ‘homesick’ and misses Manchester led to speculation surrounding the 23-year-old’s future exploding.

The reality is, though, Fernandes has been such an outstanding performer for United this season that any move for Palmer is unlikely to happen this summer, even in the highly unlikely universe where Chelsea sanction his exit. This may not be entirely impossible in the years to come, though, so it’s one to watch out for.

Striker duo targeted by Premier League rival as shock reports surface from Spain

One Chelsea megastar who will not be moving on this summer, though, is Moises Caicedo. The Ecuador international responded to stunning links with Real Madrid by telling reporters that he “wants to become a Chelsea legend”, as reported on Tuesday by Fabrizio Romano on X. So, Blues fans can rest assured that Caicedo will be at Stamford Bridge for the long haul.

But there could be another midfield exit this summer in the shape of Andrey Santos. The likes of West Ham and Man United have been linked with the 21-year-old Brazilian, who could cost as much as £60m, and Chelsea might consider sanctioning a sale if such a fee is received.

Then there comes the Chelsea strike-force, which could become a key point of discussion this summer. The signing of Liam Delap last year has evidently not worked thus far, and a rapid exit for the 23-year-old at the end of the season has already been reported. Newcastle United wanted Delap before he signed for Chelsea and are reportedly considering going back in for him, with further top-flight interest set to arrive if the player is put up for sale. Considering the Blues signed Delap for just £30m from Ipswich Town, they should have little issue recouping that fee or even turning a profit.

Delap is not the only Chelsea striker with whom Newcastle have been linked, as reports claim that they are also interested in Nicolas Jackson. While the Senegalese is currently out on loan at Bayern Munich and not technically a member of the Chelsea squad at present, his permanent sale would be a significant one if it went ahead this summer for a profit on the £32m for which he was signed.

To round off an expensive list of Chelsea stars recently linked with an exit, two more first-team regulars have been linked with a stunning summer switch to La Liga. Mundo Deportivo report that winger Pedro Neto is ‘on the radar’ of Barcelona, with the Blues likely to demand at least the £54m they paid Wolves for his signature in 2024. If wide reinforcements are brought in this summer, Neto could ultimately give way.

Meanwhile, further reports from Spain suggest that Marc Cucurella is a summer target for Atletico Madrid. An offer of €55m (£51m) is reportedly being ‘prepared’ for the 27-year-old, though these reports come from Fichajes and must be taken with a grain of salt. If the Blues fail to reach the Champions League, though, anything is possible. It could be an interesting summer.