Chelsea drop huge £243m transfer hint as drastic Enzo Maresca call confirmed

Chelsea have removed a host of players from their club website ahead of a summer cull. Almost all returning loanees have been taken off the squad list.

In total, Chelsea had 15 players on loan in the second half of last season. Of those, only Andrey Santos has been added to Enzo Maresca's current first team group.

Mamadou Sarr, Mike Penders, and Dario Essugo all joined up with their new side for the Club World Cup in America after agreeing transfers over the past 12 months but were not on loan. Santos is the only player expected to have a role in the senior side next season.

Between September and January, Chelsea also had Gabriel Slonina and David Datro Fofana on loan. Both players saw their deals cancelled over the winter and did not head back out.

Only three players are on the loan section of the Chelsea website. They are Carney Chukwuemeka, Deivid Washington, and Teddy Sharman-Lowe.

Chukwuemeka's time at Borussia Dortmund has officially come to an end after they were knocked out of the Club World Cup. That deal was extended beyond the usual June 30 deadline in order to allow him to continue playing. Dortmund have confirmed that they in talks to take him on loan next season as well.

Washington, who Chelsea signed from Santos in 2023 for £17million, is on an 18-month stay back in Brazil. Sharman-Lowe penned a contract extension last month before moving to League One side Bolton Wanderers. He helped Doncaster Rovers achieve promotion last year but has never made a senior Chelsea appearance.

Bashir Humphreys has already moved from loanee to permanent Burnley player. He played a big part in Scott Parker's Championship-winning team in the form of Jose Mourinho's almost impenetrable 2004/05 Chelsea defence. His loan came with an obligation to buy.

For the others, Chelsea have simply continued their decision to outcast players not in Maresca's plans. The 'bomb squad' as it has been called, is a lengthy set of players who have gradually been exiled over the past year.

Last summer it included Trevoh Chalobah and Conor Gallagher. They would both eventually leave, although Chalobah was recalled from his loan in January.

There is no such pathway for those who have been wiped from the website. Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling, Joao Felix, Renato Veiga, Alfie Gilchrist, Lesley Ugochukwu, David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja, Axel Disasi, and Djordje Petrovic are all missing.

Petrovic, who was initially expected to be assessed in America as a contender for the number one goalkeeping spot, is the closest to having a part to play. He is now likely to be sold.

Chelsea will work towards loaning or selling all of the above group, who cost a combined £243million whilst Omari Kellyman, Mathis Amougou, and Kendry Paez are all set for loans themselves.

Penders, Wiley, and Slonina could all depart as well. Aaron Anselmino, Marc Guiu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku, and even teenage talents Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong all have uncertain futures.

Mykhailo Mudryk is still on the squad list despite his suspension. He has no squad number. Jamie Gittens has been added but is also yet to be given a number.

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