It seems even Chelsea’s spending has a ceiling. Despite another spate of new arrivals this summer, the Blues are still pushing to make two more big-money signings as they pursue Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho.
However, club bosses appear reluctant to meet the demanded fees for both forward stars, with RB Leipzig reportedly wanting around £60million for Simons. Manchester United, meanwhile, are holding out for £50m for Garnacho, and Chelsea now need to raise further transfer funds to seal both deals.
According to the Sun, seven big-name stars are still on the books at Stamford Bridge and available for sale. However, suitors have not been forthcoming, and the club faces losing more than £14m between now and January on players who won’t even feature.
Raheem Sterling
Despite reported interest from West Ham, Fulham and Crystal Palace, the fall from grace continues for the 30-year-old ex-England international. Incredibly, he remains Chelsea’s highest earner on £325,000-a-week and, as time runs out on a move, is set to make more than £5.5m between now and the next transfer window while getting every weekend off.
Christopher Nkunku
Currently surplus to requirements while sitting on a long-term contract and a weekly wage of £195k. Rumours of a move to Manchester United have long fallen flat, and while he’s unlikely to be adding any goal bonuses to his windfall, the striker can take more than £3.3m from the club while having his feet up.
Ben Chilwell
Crystal Palace’s failure to push to make last season’s loan move permanent was as big a blow to Chelsea as it was to the left-back himself. Despite being linked with Leeds, Chilwell’s recent injury record and £100k-a-week wages mean Chelsea are struggling to get the 2021 Champions League winner off the books.
Nicolas Jackson
On the same money as Chilwell, but now being made available for very different reasons following the signings of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap. At 24, surely represents value for someone, but has seemingly become surplus at Chelsea late in the transfer window, at a time when most top clubs have sorted their striker signings.
Seems like Newcastle, or training alone until January.
Carney Chukwuemeka
All 10 of his league appearances in 2024/25 came in the Bundesliga, where he was on loan at Borussia Dortmund. Just 21, he will struggle to find another club to match his £50k weekly wages, given he remains unproven. Unless he lowers financial expectations, he faces four months twiddling his thumbs.
Axel Disasi
Playing just 13 times in the Premier League last season, with seven of those appearances coming when loaned out at Aston Villa, was hardly going to put him in the shop window. Bournemouth and Wolves have been linked with the French defender, who is picking up £40k a week for barely playing.
David Datro Fofana
The 22-year-old Ivorian forward has already had three loan spells elsewhere. Unless he negotiates a fourth one, he will cost his club £30k a week while training away from the first team at Cobham.