When Xabi Alonso finally takes office on July 1, one of his first tasks will be sorting out the club’s options at centre-back. Plenty will have to leave Chelsea, and the club could also sign one or two.
As things stand, Chelsea have 10 senior options in central defence. Aaron Anselmino and Axel Disasi will return from loans at Strasbourg and West Ham, though Disasi is unlikely to have a future at Chelsea.
Chelsea have high hopes for Josh Acheampong under Xabi Alonso…
Where does Acheampong fit in with Chelsea’s plans for 2026/27?
They will join Levi Colwill, Mamadou Sarr, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile, Josh Acheampong and Jorrel Hato. Only one of those has made it to the World Cup.
Hato is a part of the Netherlands squad this summer. Alonso will have to remove a handful of those players from Chelsea’s books, while he is likely to want a new signing. Jan Paul van Hecke is a target.
Tottenham see two bids rejected for Jan Paul van Hecke
For the last few months, van Hecke has been linked with Chelsea. The defender has been touted as the latest player to swap Brighton for Chelsea after Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, Joao Pedro and more.
The link between the two clubs is constant. Graham Potter and Robert Sanchez are examples too, while Liam Rosenior cut his teeth as a coach at Brighton, having finished his playing career at The Amex.
Now, van Hecke could strengthen that bond. But Chelsea are not the only side interested, with London rivals Spurs also keen as Roberto De Zerbi looks to raid his old side and reunite with the defender.
Brighton want £70m for Chelsea and Tottenham target van Hecke, but now Brighton CEO Paul Barber has told TalkSPORT that already this summer, Spurs have seen two bids rejected for the giant defender.
Quoted by Ben Jacobs on X, Barber said: “Yes, we rejected a bid from Tottenham over the last week or so, in fact, two bids. From that point of view, it has to be right for us as well as the player.”
Van Hecke could join, but which players could leave Chelsea?
If Chelsea are going to make a signing at centre-back, then they will have to wave goodbye to more than just one or two players. Of course, Hato and Acheampong can play at full-back, and Anselmino is young.
Who should be Levi Colwill’s centre-back partner next season?
Anselmino might suit Alonso if he can stay fit but the chances are he goes on loan for a third time this summer. Disasi might be the same, though Chelsea will surely seek a permanent exit for the centre-back.
Then there is Chalobah and Adarabioyo. The duo have contracts at Chelsea until the summer of 2028; it is the least amount of time left on any of Chelsea’s senior squad. Chalobah does have a one-year option.
Sarr has failed to play regularly since his return from Strasbourg, and Badiashile has almost become a forgotten option. The only defenders that will definitely remain are Colwill, Acheampong and Hato.
Indeed, Colwill and Hato are key players, while Acheampong has been made ‘untouchable’ alongside the likes of Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro. But Spurs’ rejected bids for van Hecke is good news for Chelsea.
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