Five 'superstars' Chelsea may be forced to sell after dire financial results made public

Cameron Smith

• 27 Feb 2026 06:01 CST
• 5 min read

Analysis

Chelsea booked the biggest pre-tax loss in English football history last season, as per the latest data from UEFA, and it could have a drastic impact on their transfer business this summer.

The Blues have spent over €1.7 billion on new signings under Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly and as a result, combined with their lack of a front-of-shirt sponsor, they could be forced to offload several notable stars this summer, according to finance expert Adam Williams.

BBC Sport and The Daily Mail have denied reports suggesting that Chelsea’s best players could be sold ahead of the 2026-27 season, but Williams believes that a number of ‘superstars’ may be sacrificed in order for Liam Rosenior’s side to comply with financial regulations.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through five ‘superstars’ who could be sold by Chelsea this summer.

Cole Palmer

Cole Palmer has continuously been linked with a Chelsea departure this season and FootballTransfers understands that he is viewed as a suitable replacement for Bruno Fernandes by the Manchester United hierarchy.

The England international has swatted away suggestions that he is unhappy in west London in recent weeks, but he is a boyhood Man Utd fan and the allure of returning to Manchester could be a strong one.

Chelsea have no intention of offloading their prized attacker, however he is arguably their most sellable asset, especially when fully fit.

Enzo Fernandez

Enzo Fernandez has established himself as an integral player for Chelsea since his arrival from Benfica in January 2023 and he has added goals to his repertoire over the past 12 months.

The 25-year-old’s current deal isn’t due to expire until 2032 and Chelsea are unlikely to agree a sale unless they turn a profit on the €121 million they spent to sign him.

However, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are known admirers of Fernandez and they have both been tipped to pursue a deal when the 2026 summer transfer window opens.

Moises Caicedo

Moises Caicedo has arguably been Chelsea’s best performer across the last 18 months and, following a rocky start to life at Stamford Bridge, he is now one of the best midfielders in world football.

Reports indicate that he is keen to be rewarded with an improved contract by the Blues and it’s understood that discussions over an increased salary are likely to take place following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

But, Caicedo boasts an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of over €115m and there will be plenty of suitors for his signature if Chelsea indicate that a sale could be permitted.

Reece James

On first viewing, this may seem like a foolish suggestion. After all, Reece James is Chelsea’s club captain and having progressed through the academy system, he is extremely settled at Stamford Bridge.

However, his current contract is due to expire in 2028 and although he is only 26 years old, the Chelsea hierarchy could feasibly be tempted into a sale, especially considering their desire to build a squad with a young demographic.

In fact, if the Blues are unable to finalise a new deal with James, then a departure could well be on the cards this summer.

Marc Cucurella

Marc Cucurella falls into a similar category to James. He also has just over two years remaining on his contract and he will be 28 years old by the time the next Premier League season kicks off.

Atletico Madrid have been touted as possible suitors and reports in Spain suggest they are willing to pursue a deal this summer.

With Jorrel Hato impressing in recent weeks, Cucurella is no longer indispensable in west London and he could potentially be one of the players offloaded if the club are forced to consider sales this summer.

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