Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly told five senior players they are free to leave the club as he begins reshaping his squad ahead of the new season.
The Spaniard, who started pre-season training at Cobham last week, has reportedly identified goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, defenders Axel Disasi and Benoît Badiashile, winger Alejandro Garnacho, and striker Liam Delap as players who are not part of his plans.
According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, the five players have been given permission to find new clubs during the summer transfer window. Their combined market value is estimated at around £160 million.
Speaking at his first press conference as Chelsea manager earlier this week, Alonso outlined the qualities he expects from his team.
“We want to be active, we want to be brave, we want to play good football, and we want to compete well. But above all, we need the right mentality. That’s fundamental to understanding what to do and what each moment demands. We want to show that we are ready to go,” he said.
Alonso also addressed reports linking Garnacho with a move away from Stamford Bridge.
“We have spoken to the sporting director, and there is interest from another club. We’ll see how it develops. I hope it ends in the best possible way for all parties,” he said.
Garnacho joined Chelsea from Manchester United in a deal reportedly worth £40 million last summer but struggled to impress in his first season, scoring eight goals and providing four assists in 43 appearances.
Delap, who arrived from Ipswich Town for a reported £30 million, also found it difficult to establish himself, managing two goals and four assists in 41 appearances.
Badiashile made just 16 appearances across all competitions last season, while Disasi failed to feature for the first team before spending the second half of the campaign on loan at West Ham United. Jorgensen, who signed a seven-year contract after joining Chelsea in 2024, made only 12 appearances during the season.
Chelsea have already bolstered their squad this summer with the signings of Geovany Quenda, Emmanuel Emegha, and Marco Palestra, all of whom joined pre-season training last week. Players currently involved in the FIFA World Cup are expected to return to the squad once the tournament concludes.
