Sell Lavia, Delap at risk: Transfer verdict on every Chelsea player after Liam Rosenior appointment | OneFootball

Standard Sport assesses surgery required on Blues squad

It is set to be another busy year for Chelsea in the transfer market.

But their recruitment model means there will be more squad turnover in 2026, with an attacking player expected to be signed in the summer.

Chelsea need to upgrade key areas of the squad if they want to get back to challenging for the title.

They have long been some of the best sellers in football and there will be more player exits.

Here, Standard Sport runs the rule over every player in the first-team squad and assesses who they should keep and who they should sell.

Goalkeepers

Robert Sanchez

The Spaniard was widely mocked when he joined Chelsea, with many believing it was a peculiar signing. But he has improved since the summer, when he won the golden glove award for being the best goalkeeper at the Club World Cup. It remains to be seen whether he is Chelsea’s long-term No1, but he is No1 right now and an ideal second-choice if the club do decide to upgrade. KEEP

Robert Sanchez

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Filip Jorgensen

Wants to play more regularly, but he has not always shown that he deserves more game time when given chances to impress in a Chelsea shirt. Should leave on loan in January and be sold eventually. SELL

Defenders

Reece James

The captain of the club, whose leadership qualities are slowly but surely becoming clearer to see. England’s best right-back and, increasingly, a superb option in central midfield. KEEP

Malo Gusto

Like James - though not as well - Gusto can play both right-back and in central midfield and has proven himself to be a committed and versatile player. KEEP

Marc Cucurella

Had to prove himself to the fanbase after an iffy first few months at Chelsea, when Ben Chilwell was still in the reckoning at left-back. But has grown in prominence to become one of the world’s best in his position. KEEP

Jorrel Hato

Signed for £37million as a teenager from Ajax in the summer, and opportunities have been few and far between. When he has played, he has not always impressed, though. If he does not improve before the summer, Chelsea should sell him while he’s still young and there’s value to be recouped. SELL

Jorrel Hato

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Wesley Fofana

When fit, he and Levi Colwill are Chelsea’s two most accomplished centre-backs. The Frenchman has had his injury struggles but is having a good season. KEEP

Tosin Adarabioyo

Tosin, at 28, is Chelsea’s oldest first-team player. Signed on a free transfer from Fulham, he has put in some good performances for the Blues… as well as some less positive ones. SELL

Trevoh Chalobah

The club’s fanbase are completely divided on whether Chalobah represents everything that is right or everything that is wrong at Stamford Bridge. The Chelsea academy product is having an impressive campaign and has begun chipping in with goals. Perhaps not a starter in the years to come, but a good defender. KEEP

Benoit Badiashile

The Frenchman is a reliable defender on his day, but when off-form he is error-prone and makes Chelsea’s hundreds of millions of transfer spending look poorly spent. SELL

Josh Acheampong

Only 19, Acheampong delivered performances beyond his years in the Conference League last term and has done a good job when called upon this season. A centre-back able to play at full-back, he has loan interest. But Chelsea could do with keeping him around in the short-term, as well as further into the future. KEEP

Midfielders

Moises Caicedo

One of the very best defensive midfielders on the planet, Chelsea are lucky to have a screening midfielder of the Ecuadorian’s quality. KEEP

Enzo Fernandez

To continue a familiar theme, Fernandez’s £107m move from Benfica took a while to show itself a worthwhile investment, but the Argentine is an important cog in the Chelsea machine these days and a regular goalscorer. KEEP

Enzo Fernandez

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Andrey Santos

The natural understudy to Fernandez as a No8 in midfield but also able to do a job as a No6 or as a No10 if needed for whatever reason. KEEP

Romeo Lavia

A fine midfielder, but has had rotten luck with injuries. So much so that it is getting to the point where Chelsea are going to have to make a serious decision over whether to accept the move has failed and cut their losses. SELL

Dario Essugo

Suffered a serious thigh injury just when he was breaking into the first team. Was signed because his data suggested he would be the perfect deputy to Caicedo when the Ecuadorian can’t play. Let’s see. He’s only 20. KEEP

Dario Essugo

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Forwards

Jamie Gittens

Signed from Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Has shown flashes of trickery and class but is all too often indecisive in the final third. Needs to do more. KEEP

Alejandro Garnacho

Gittens’s rival for game time on the left wing finds himself in a remarkably similar position. Also needs to do more and become a better crosser of the ball, but worth persisting with, like Gittens. KEEP

Pedro Neto

Is fast becoming Chelsea’s most regular goalscorer while Palmer works his way back to full fitness. The Portuguese is a magnificent player with a good shot, good crossing ability, and a bit of bite, too. KEEP

Tyrique George

The 19-year-old was all set to join Fulham on loan on deadline day in the summer until the plug was pulled. Was a a very regular goalscorer when picked by Enzo Maresca but needs more game time at this stage of his development. LOAN

Estevao Willian

The Brazilian was carefully managed by Maresca, which frustrated some Chelsea fans who want to see the 18-year-old Brazilian star more often. He’s going to be star. It’s just a question of when. KEEP

Cole Palmer

The easiest call of them all. Finally, back fit, Palmer can now belatedly get going this season. He is Chelsea’s talisman and a crucial part of everything they do. KEEP

Cole Palmer

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Facundo Buonanotte

Loaned from Brighton for the season but should not be signed permanently and won’t be. Has done a job, nothing more. SEND BACK TO BRIGHTON AFTER LOAN ENDS

Marc Guiu

Guiu’s style of play and broad gait makes it easy to forget he is still just 19 and finding his way in the game. A hard-working striker who may never be a world star but has a role to play at Chelsea at present. KEEP

Joao Pedro

The club’s marquee summer signing and their top scorer in the league this term with six goals so far. Still gets lost in games and too many matches pass him by, but a big part of this team. KEEP

Liam Delap

The foil for Joao Pedro, Delap was signed from Ipswich as something of a battering ram - a promising young striker whose physicality suits a certain profile of match. Still, he must do more. Delap has worked with Rosenior before and the new head coach will hope to get him firing. KEEP