Chelsea have gone on another spending spree, and while that is going on, the hierarchy is trying to free up some positions, as the Blues will soon be three-man deep in positions they do not want to be. This means the club have turned their focus on the centre-back position, and there are definitely decisions to be made.
The decision about who to keep and who to let go is far from straightforward, this is because several factors affect a player's future. The first thing to consider is who does Chelsea have?
Last summer, the Blues added Tosin Adarabioyo to the ranks on a free transfer from Fulham. This addition created a need for the Blues to part with one centre-back. That was Trevoh Chalobah.
Chalobah was loaned to Crystal Palace at the beginning of the 2024/25 Premier League season, and that left the abovementioned Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Wesley Fofana. Mamadou Sarr only just arrived this window. Alfie Gilchrist and Aaron Anselmino are also now at the club.
What should Chelsea do with Chalobah this summer?
Fofana arrived in the first window the new ownership oversaw, and since then, he has struggled to get consistent gametime due to injuries. He has impressed somewhat when he has played, though his long passing has often left much to be desired. His infrequent appearances in matchday squads have left fans, and undoubtedly the coach, frustrated. Colwill played a significant number of games last season, and he is likely to remain a staple in the starting lineup.
Badiashile also had availability issues, mainly due to recurring injuries. He was good in the UEFA Europa Conference League, where he got a majority of his playing opportunities. But overall. he does not seem to be a starting calibre player for Chelsea.
Chalobah's story is a lot more interesting. The 26-year-old defender, despite leaving for Crystal Palace at the start of last season, was called back in the winter. He then proceeded to play several games between January and the end of the season.
If Maresca is the head coach, and he didn't want Chalobah gone, what was he doing at Palace in the first place? It could be that the Italian, in fact, wanted him gone and later changed his mind when he saw the performance of the other centre-backs or the need for more due to injury issues.
The other possibility is that some people above Maresca preferred Fofana to be in the squad over Chalobah, for optics. "What optics?" You may ask.
Fofana was signed by the new ownership. The transfer was a spectacle, with the Blues needing to pay a whopping €80 million, making him one of the most expensive defenders in history.
Now, if you spent that amount of money on a centre-back, and 20 months later that player is on the fringes of the action due to injury, you'd be under pressure. Accepting that the transfer hasn't worked out would certainly put your judgment into question. So, it is only natural that you will try your utmost to make things work.
In addition to that, interest is low for a player on his wages, and who has struggled with injuries. In comparison, Chalobah has had better performances on the balance of things, and perhaps most importantly, is almost always fit. In fact, some believe he is Chelsea's best defender.
In light of all that, Chelsea should find a way to part ways with Fofana. However, that would be very difficult to do for the reasons mentioned above. It's much easier to find a new home for Chalobah. This situation is not one of what you prefer, it's more a case of what's more practical.
In conclusion, if Chelsea is certain about trimming the squad in the centre-back department, it's more practical to say goodbye to Chalobah. One thing many fans fail to realise is that clubs often part with players other clubs are willing to sign, not ones they want to let go.
Even though Chalobah is likely to be more useful to Chelsea over a full season due to his fitness and availability, he is still likely the one to head for the exit door, for the same reasons. But hopefully it does not come to that, based on how well he has done.