Xabi Alonso has been in charge at Chelsea for just over a month, and several players will be aiming to force their way into contention under the new boss. The Spaniard's arrival could present a route back into first-team contention for some players who found themselves out of the picture under previous bosses.
New signings and departures
The Blues have already spent more than £300 million on new signings, with more than one third of that coming from their British record deal for Morgan Rogers. Some new arrivals were agreed before Alonso's arrival, including a big-money move for Geovany Quenda, while the former Bayer Leverkusen chief has also added Premier League experience in the form of Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson.
Money has been raised through the sales of Marc Cucurella, Andrey Santos, and Tyrique George. More exits could yet follow as the new manager takes a proper look at his squad during pre-season.
Five players who could resurrect their Chelsea careers
Mykhailo Mudryk
Mykhailo Mudryk spent time on the sidelines as a result of a doping ban, but his availability makes him a notable name on this list. The winger was initially dropped from the Chelsea squad in November 2024 following a provisional suspension imposed by the Football Association. The 25-year-old subsequently received the maximum four-year ban after an "adverse finding" for the prohibited substance meldonium during a routine test. Mudryk challenged the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and is now cleared to return to action after acknowledging he breached the regulations.
Alonso said he is "very happy" to have the winger back in the fold but suggested a return might be a longer process given his time out of the game. The manager said: "It's too early to tell how he is in terms of fitness, in terms of the game time you need to be involved again, so it's still too early to tell. But we are happy for him, especially for him, because we are probably not able to understand what he has been through during this time and how he feels at the moment with the things he has had to cope with."
Mudryk had already contributed 21 goals and assists across 73 outings for the Blues. He will be targeting even greater achievements upon his comeback, though there have already been reports that other clubs are ready to test the water over a transfer deal.
Mike Penders
Belgian goalkeeper Penders is yet to feature competitively for Chelsea, but his standout loan spell at Strasbourg could herald a fresh chapter at Stamford Bridge. Robert Sanchez is expected to start the season as first-choice goalkeeper for the Blues, though Penders, 21, will be keeping close tabs from the sidelines. Sanchez is also managing a minor knock during the Blues' pre-season tour. His younger colleague has now traveled to Hong Kong to gather invaluable experience in the lead-up to the new season.
During his temporary stint in France, Penders clocked up 52 appearances across all competitions. He registered 12 clean sheets, helping Strasbourg reach the semi-finals of the Conference League. The considerable experience accumulated in Ligue 1 will undoubtedly prove instrumental in Penders potentially securing a regular berth in Alonso's first-team plans. Now he has a chance to show the new boss what he can do.
Axel Disasi and Aaron Anselmino
Alonso has confirmed he wants "four or five" centre-halves at his disposal at Chelsea this season. This could pave the way for defensive pair Axel Disasi and Aaron Anselmino, both of whom have recently returned from loan stints. Since his arrival in 2023, Disasi has been sent out on loan twice to Premier League rivals Aston Villa and West Ham. Anselmino joined a year later but has had three spells away, including stints at Borussia Dortmund, Boca Juniors, and Strasbourg.
There are reportedly plans to facilitate departures for Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile, with Mamadou Sarr also anticipated to head out on loan. This creates room in the centre-back department, with Maxence Lacroix, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, and Tosin Adarabioyo remaining at the club. The question concerns whether Disasi or Anselmino would be prepared to begin the campaign as the fifth choice of five. There are reports of interest from the former, with West Ham still keen to convince him to return and help them push for promotion from the Championship.
Liam Delap
Liam Delap joined the Blues last summer but has endured a difficult time with injuries since touching down in west London. The 23-year-old missed a total of 83 days during his debut campaign for the Blues and only managed to string together a run of appearances from January onwards. Nevertheless, Delap completed just three full 90-minute matches from that point. He struggled to deliver in front of goal but will now be desperate to demonstrate his value to Alonso.
The Spaniard has commended the striker for his pre-season efforts, saying: "Every player that is involved is doing well, Liam as well. It was 60 minutes when he had to battle hard against the centre-backs, a good few lays off, so he's doing well and preparing for the season." When quizzed on whether he believed Delap was struggling with his confidence, Alonso said: "I see him in a good mood, in a good desire to get proper fitness, proper football feeling good, and he's doing well."
