Chelsea looks ahead to the 2026-27 season: Alonso must prioritize streamlining the squad.

Having failed to secure a European spot for next season, Chelsea faces the need to clear out excess players this summer. Xabi Alonso's wish for his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge is a lean yet talented squad.

On the positive side, a year away from continental competitions gives Chelsea a chance to thoroughly assess their squad. They were fined £27 million by UEFA last July for breaching financial regulations. Before considering the new signings Alonso proposes in the summer transfer window, Chelsea must prioritize offloading surplus players at Stamford Bridge. A lean squad combined with a lighter fixture schedule will greatly aid the Spanish manager's ambition to revive Chelsea.

Too many goalkeepers and defenders.

Let's start with the goalkeeper position. Robert Sanchez is not a bad goalkeeper at Stamford Bridge, but he is not among the top 10 goalkeepers in the Premier League either. Alonso will begin next season with four goalkeepers: Sanchez, Jorgensen, Penders, and Slonina. If Chelsea invest in a top-class goalkeeper, they will have to offload at least half of the current four.

But it is the defense that will require Alonso and Chelsea's football directors to make tough cuts. There are two noteworthy cases at Stamford Bridge: Marc Cucurella and Trevoh Chalobah. The defensive duo's contracts expire in the summer of 2028. Cucurella is not only Chelsea's best left-back but also holds significant influence in the dressing room. It would be best if Alonso takes time to accurately assess his compatriot before making a decision on his future. Chalobah's case relates to Chelsea's overload of central defenders. Apart from Chalobah, the Blues also have other center-backs such as Fofana, Tosin, Sarr, Hato, Badiashile, Acheampong, Colwill, and Disasi. Alonso will have to select the center-backs that fit his tactics and offload the rest. If Chalobah is on the departure list, Chelsea can easily optimize profit since he is a product of the Cobham academy.

Keep Enzo Fernandez or sell him to reinvest?

The four key figures in the current starting lineup at Stamford Bridge are the midfield duo Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, forward Cole Palmer, and young talent Estevao. It is unlikely that Estevao will leave Chelsea, as he only arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer. Alonso has the ability to upgrade him into a more formidable version next season. Caicedo is Chelsea's most vital midfielder, and it would be very difficult for Alonso to find a comparable replacement. Palmer has just endured a poor season, with injuries reducing his contribution to Chelsea's goals. The fact that the 24-year-old forward had to watch the 2026 World Cup from the sidelines makes it hard for Chelsea to attract attractive offers in the summer transfer window.

This makes Fernandez the star most likely to leave Stamford Bridge. He has publicly declared his affection for Real Madrid, and missing out on next season's Champions League will push the 25-year-old midfielder to seek a new club. The question is whether Real Madrid, Manchester City, or PSG are willing to meet the £105 million fee that Chelsea paid to sign him from Benfica three years ago.

Alonso also needs to determine who deserves to be Chelsea's number one center forward next season. Nicolas Jackson will return after his loan spell at Bayern Munich ends. The Senegalese striker's average of 0.75 goals per game is not bad at all, even though he was only a backup for Harry Kane at the Allianz Arena. This season, Joao Pedro has often played the role of a number nine, even though Chelsea brought him from Brighton to share the goalscoring burden with Palmer. The arrival of new signing Emegha from Strasbourg intensifies the competition for the center forward position at Stamford Bridge. The scenario of Liam Delap leaving Chelsea is entirely possible, though it remains unclear whether it would be a loan or a permanent sale.

Chelsea's confidence has hit rock bottom after a disastrous season. However, a quality squad combined with Alonso's reputation will open up hope for the rebirth of a giant at Stamford Bridge.