Chelsea Transfer Rumours

08 May 2026 10:32:24
This from Matt Law and others.

Chelsea would like a CB to challenge Chalobah for the spot next to Colwill.
And would love to sell Fofana this summer.

A figure of £120m to even start a conversation around the sale of Palmer.

Chelsea looking at restructuring the midfield area.

Alonso, Iraola and Silva again mentioned as the 3 main candidates for next coach.

After missing out on Champions League qualification, the squad is set to lose significant bonuses next season.

Contracts include heavy UCL incentives:

Players on £200k/week could lose up to £2 million each annually.



A player on £100k/week stands to lose around £1 million.

Total squad impact: potentially over £50 million in reduced wage commitments which was very sensible to put in place and negates any financial issues over not qualifying for the Champions League but players will not be happy.

This comes amid a dismal season following the departure of Enzo Maresca.

Growing speculation of a major summer clearout.

I thought I would share.

08 May 2026 07:23:14
The Iraola to Palace rumours are growing, although some quarters in the press have moved to pour cold water over them. These have coincided with reports that Chelsea are showing willingness to meet some of Xabi Alonso's demands.

It would appear we're pressing on with Alonso as our preferred choice. If Iraola were to be confirmed as taking the Palace job, that would equally confirm that we're advancing in a different direction - likely an Alonso shaped direction. Although nothing Iraola related will be confirmed till the end of Bournemouth's season.

07 May 2026 16:43:24
I'm in Spain and out the blue I get a call from a season ticket mate telling me that Cucarella is leaving and we have asked Newcastle about taking back Lewis Hall. Apparently we had a sell on clause that effectively means we would get a discount.


I was gutted when we sold him as I saw him as a player who could play in two positions. He would have been brilliant as in inverted FB.

07 May 2026 17:05:13
I will believe Cucurella leaving when it's official, but my question is why would Hall come back.

07 May 2026 17:14:32
I guess if Cucarella leaves, he would be certain to get games.
I think if I was him, I would come back, but then I'm a tad biased.

It's only a rumour, along with all the others that will do the rounds. Some bloke called Sangare is also being mentioned. Apparently a very solid DM.

I love the rumours.

07 May 2026 18:06:25
Yep, never should have sold Hall, or the plethora of other talent we've sold off.

07 May 2026 18:18:37
Standard, I have virtually not wanted us to sell any of our academy players. Some have turned out to be poor sales, but some have proved to be the correct decision.

It's very easy with hindsight, and it's very easy for me to say "sell none of them", but not practical.

08 May 2026 09:26:23
We would be a better team if we sold none of them and bought 1 player a season instead. We'd be a lot richer too, with money to build a stadium or grow in another way. That's all been thrown down the toilet.

02 May 2026 08:01:27
Newcastle Plot £60m Shock Swoop for Chelsea Hitman Jackson.

The in-form striker Nicolas Jackson is attracting huge interest from Premier League clubs after returning 11 goals from limited minutes this season following his £17 million loan deal to Bayern Munich. The £60 million fee coupled with the £17 million loan (£77 million) would be a remarkable return on a player who cost around £29 million.



Other news includes Pedro Neto's agent insisting his client will quit the club this summer with Chelsea open to a deal for around £70 million.

Garnacho will also be allowed to leave but only on a permanent deal with several clubs interested both here and abroad. Chelsea will want circa £45 million for the player who is one of the lowest paid players at the club hence attracting interest.

Source: various.

02 May 2026 08:29:55
While the rumour mill sources are never that accurate, I personally would be happy with all three being sold, if the money is spent well. Gordon would be an upgrade on Garnacho, although that's not a glowing reflection on Gordon's ability and I wouldn't spend over 50m to get him. Emegha already replaces Jackson.

Neto is a little trickier to replace, as he can play on both wings. Quenda will add an extra dimension. Gittens returns from injury, but I feel we may need a little more PL experience. Ndiaye at Everton has looked decent when I've watched them, as has Somerville at West Ham. They would both make good squad players.

02 May 2026 09:22:07
Melbourne, I guess it depends on who the new coach will be. Iraola plays a high press, high intensity style of football, so Gordon, Neto, and Jackson would fit well. Alonso plays a back 3 and wingbacks, so neither Neto, Garnacho, nor Gordon would be needed.

02 May 2026 10:20:22
Also, Irapla really likes Jackson, but, as Greenaway rightly says, it all depends on whoever the new coach will be.

I dont know about you guys, but im getting dizzy with all the rumours on a new coach, so will just wait until whoever it is comes in.

02 May 2026 10:49:53
I feel like whoever the coach is, if we can get 50m for Jackson with the 20 odd million Bayern paid for the loan, I'd rather be rid of him. I don't know why people think he would be better on the wing when he's never had a final ball. He caused all sorts of issues when with us, terrible discipline, terrible teammate, and, although the club fluffed him around with the Bayern loan, he refused to return to the club he had a contract with.

If we're trying to stamp out player egos, he will never be a good fit.

Neto has had a good season, and I like him, but he unfollowed the club on social media when Enzo left (childish af), and I think one of the best things Roman instilled in the club is that if a player is unhappy, he is sold.

03 May 2026 12:51:21
I wouldn't mind if all 3 go, but we should steer well clear of Gordon. Newcastle aren't selling him for anything less than £70m, and he's not that good imo. Yildiz would be a far better option for a similar amount.

28 Apr 2026 22:14:42.
Jose to Real Madrid. Alonso now looks favourite to join us. If that does happen, I’ve got to buy my mate a pint.

29 Apr 2026 09:31:39
I sincerely hope you are right about Jose, but completely wrong about Alonso, Tom.

29 Apr 2026 09:45:33
Out of curiosity, Bill, what's your objection to Alonso being made the manager?

29 Apr 2026 10:14:21
Bill, you didn't want Maresca calling him "Leicester Maresca" before he even arrived, and now you are against Alonso, two coaches who have achieved success in their short managerial careers, yet you championed Liam from the off, even saying we should keep him and give him a full pre-season? Could you share your logic with us all, please?

29 Apr 2026 12:55:58
No problems, I wanted LR to be given a chance because he had no pre season, no time to work with the players and had a total of one player he worked with. That being said, there was absolutely no way he could survive when the players downed tools.



Coming onto Alonso, yesterday had an excellent season with Bl, but tanked when he came up against the egos of Rm. LR and Alonso could not turn it around when players put their tools back in their ego box.

Hope that explains my views.

29 Apr 2026 13:36:53
Fair enough.

I feel like Madrid has never been a systems team, and if our players have half the egos of the RM lot, they are not only delusional as to their importance, but we got to clear the rot.

Liam and Xabi can't be compared either. Playing for one of the greatest midfielders of his generation who has won a league title as manager in a league mostly dominated by one team vs a journeyman wash out who constantly made a fool of himself in interviews and has never won anything as a player or manager.

Xabi may not have been able to tame the Madrid egos. However, our lot are far closer to Leverkusen in ability than to Real Madrid.

I have seen some fair criticism of his style of football and what he expects of his players, but very few managers in world football could do much with this Madrid team so I certainly don't judge his failure in Spain.

Who would you like to come in, Bill?

29 Apr 2026 14:19:13
Melbourne, I would go for Hoeness.

29 Apr 2026 15:20:12
What is it about Hoeness that appeals? I ask sincerely, as I haven't watched his teams play, and I was under the impression he hasn't won much. I know Tris is also an admirer, and has said he is similar to Klopp in his teams' intensity and press.

29 Apr 2026 15:53:44
That's what has been missing, Melbourne. Too much possession and not enough intensity.

Just look at last night's game. It was a terrific watch. It pains me to say it, but I also liked the Liverpool team under Klopp. Teams were beaten in the first 15 minutes.

29 Apr 2026 16:22:08
I would add a caveat. It all depends on who the SDs buy and sell in the summer.

No point in having a good coach if your best players are sold.

30 Apr 2026 00:59:35
I don't disagree. The big difference when Liam first arrived (unlikely his doing) was we played with intensity. Same reason we dominated the first 35 minutes against Leeds.

30 Apr 2026 08:06:39
We played with great intensity in Liam's first few games because he freely admitted he didn't change anything and carried on the Maresca approach, which had us comfortably sitting in a Champions League spot!

30 Apr 2026 09:37:06
Tbh, Greenaway, there was close to zero intensity in the 'Maresca' approach for months. One of the reasons I wasn't fussed with him leaving was that the build up was slow and created extremely little, especially against low blocks. I expect Maresca to be sacked within 18 months if he does join Citeh.

30 Apr 2026 09:42:52
Melbourne

I totally agree with you on Maresca's tactics. Bored the life out of me.

I also agree with your view if he joins City.

30 Apr 2026 10:41:30
Looking at reports today, Alonso wants more say within the club. That's that then.

30 Apr 2026 21:31:26
Bill, you hated Maresca and wanted him out before he even joined, like your view on Lampard, Jose returning and now Alonso, but the truth is, Maresca had us in a Champions League spot. We are now 10 points off it after your mate Liam took over. Grass greener? All banter, mate, and I respect your opinion and our differing views.

BTW, I think we will all be moaning on here in a few years time as Maresca develops into an elite manager. All opinions, of course, and that is the great thing about this wonderful site, we can all share our different opinions.

01 May 2026 09:00:06
Greenaway

If Maresca did not have a hissy fit, then he would probably still be our coach, with, as Tom says, an end of season review in sight.

The club were not looking to remove him pre-season; he removed himself.

Where the club went wrong was hiring a young coach who is not at our level. Equally, I don't believe Lamps is at that level yet.

Jose has made enough money out of our club. I don't want him to earn any more severance from us. I have already given my views on why I don't want Alonso.



Would I moan if Maresca does well? Hell no, he won't be at our club, which is all I care about. He is another part of our history.

Just out of curiosity, why do you want Alonso, Greenaway, and, more importantly, why do you think he would succeed when he tanked at RM, bearing in mind our players also down tools.

Also, I have to say, the grass is currently greener, but hopefully will become yellow with a good summer.

01 May 2026 10:53:33
Bill, you wanted Maresca out from the day he was appointed, mate, and even after he got us top 4 last season and won us 2 pots, but as you say, that is now in the past. As for our next manager/head coach, I would throw a few names in the pot, but none of them are likely. Klopp being my ultimate pick, but that just won't happen. Enrique would be perfect, but that won't happen. Conte would bring discipline and fitness, and would also be on my list, as would TT and Jose, but again, that won't happen.


Of the three names being banded about at the moment, Alonso is the standout. He has plenty of top-level experience as a player with Liverpool, Real, Bayern Munich and Spain, and as a coach. He won the World Cup and the Champions League twice as a player, and took Bayer Leverkusen to the final of the Europa League whilst winning the Bundesliga against all the odds. That said, I imagine he is highly sought after and may well still end up at Liverpool.

01 May 2026 18:04:50
We will find out in the next month or so, Greenaway.

Lots of speculation, but only the owners and SD's really know what is going on.

27 Apr 2026 15:21:11
I was told this morning that one of the bigger Premiership teams is negotiating a sale for over £5bn.
I actually thought it might be the spuds but if they get relegated I can’t see them achieving that price, although I think that might be my biased opinion.

27 Apr 2026 15:48:33
Think it's Liverpool, Tom.

27 Apr 2026 18:57:38
Thanks, Bill.

22 Apr 2026 18:12:17
Rosenior gone. Not a massive surprise. As I’ve said all along, I genuinely feel sorry for the guy. Hopefully he finds his place in football again and can develop his career a bit more organically. Or he can just enjoy life with £24m in the bank. Did I say I feel sorry for him?

Hopefully it’s not the SD’s completing the period of self-reflection and they’re the ones being reflected upon.

Interestingly, Winstanley and Stewart have been removed from their roles at Strasbourg - beginning of the end? Winstanley was linked with the Spurs sporting director role. He was apparently interested but wanted total control. Watch this space.

22 Apr 2026 18:23:37
There was a break clause, I can safely feel sorry for him again.

22 Apr 2026 20:10:17
He was never going to receive the full 6 year payout, but he will still get a healthy payout, id imagine. Lighting money on fire.

23 Apr 2026 11:49:14
1 year Standard, not bad for a few months' poor work.

23 Apr 2026 16:53:55
I'm in the wrong profession, J!

23 Apr 2026 21:21:44
A source close to a senior Chelsea player says there are clear divisions within the dressing room.

Some players are focused purely on the club's success, while others are still frustrated by Enzo Maresca's departure and believe more should have stood against it.

Different perspectives internally, with unity not fully there.

The bottom line was they wanted change.



Apparently, there was a break clause and LR will draw a salary for a max of 12 months from his appointment, and that will stop if he gets a new role on the same money.

The headline figures of large payouts are very wide of the mark and designed to capture the thoughts of the slightly less intelligent.

22 Apr 2026 13:46:54
If the latest social media rumours are true and LR is no longer our manager, I honestly hope that decision doesn't allow other decision makers off the hook.

22 Apr 2026 15:50:18
I think the leadership are just talking about what they want for dinner, Tom.

22 Apr 2026 17:28:01
Maybe not, he is gone.

22 Apr 2026 13:15:26
ED001

Reports are coming out that LR did not carry out a post match analysis with the team.

It's also being reported that the so called, and i use the term loosely, leadership team are now discussing the way forward.

Just wondering if you have heard anything through the grape vine.

{Ed001's Note - I haven't sorry.}

19 Apr 2026 22:05:39
A few rumours about Simeone tonight. Any truth in it ED01?

{Ed001's Note - not as far as I am aware. Last I heard he will not consider a move away right now as he thinks there is a chance for more titles there.}

20 Apr 2026 09:40:06
Thanks ED01, he would be a good option although Jose would be perfect. I think it might end up being Lampard though.

{Ed001's Note - I hear Gary O'Neil is available....}

20 Apr 2026 11:17:10
It wouldn't surprise me ED01 with this lot in charge

20 Apr 2026 13:25:19
That's it ED001, kick people while they are down.

{Ed001's Note - sorry Bill, that was a very low blow!}