Chelsea face major transfer headache after deadline day with eight decisions awaiting Enzo Maresca

Chelsea still have numerous transfer decisions to make despite the summer window in England slamming shut on Friday evening. The Blues, as expected, endured a chaotic deadline day with a deal agreed for Jadon Sancho to join from Manchester United on loan and an obligation to buy included in the switch.

Three loan exits were also sanctioned with Raheem Sterling sealing a sensational move to Arsenal, Trevoh Chalobah joining Crystal Palace and Armando Broja moving to Everton. There was also the Victor Osimhen transfer saga which took yet another twist as the Blues focused on Sancho and Al Ahli signed Ivan Toney.

Despite Chelsea making a number of deadline day offers, the Nigeria international is set to stay at Napoli. However, as he is not part of Antonio Conte’s plans, it is possible he will not play any competitive senior football for the next four months.

Though the summer trading period has ended in England, it remains open elsewhere with clubs in Saudi Arabia and Turkey still able to trade heading into September. Alongside working to agree moves for Sancho, Sterling and Chalobah, there were plenty of others linked to exits that were unable to find a new club.

Harvey Vale, David Datro Fofana, Angelo Gabriel, Deivid Washington, Zak Sturge, Alex Matos, Cesare Casadei and Lucas Bergstrom were the main names allowed. Fofana and Washington were both unable to get late moves over the line, though there could still be a solution for Vale.

Interest from Al-Ettifaq in signing the 20-year-old on a permanent deal was revealed earlier this week but talks collapsed. A temporary switch however, is still possible, though it would take up one of the two remaining international loan spots for the Blues if sanctioned.

Any of the above names being integrated into first-team training sessions seems wholly unlikely which leaves Maresca with at least eight major decisions to make. Though Chelsea would prefer those names to return to the club in 2025, terminating contracts is an option, albeit a very brutal one.

If that scenario was to play out, any potential free agents could join a Saudi Pro League team with three days left of their transfer window, while Turkish clubs still have over two weeks to complete incomings.

There is also Ben Chilwell, a player that Maresca made clear was not being considered for selection, that will likely spend the next few months in the reserves. Manchester United and Brentford were both linked but neither club formally pursued a deal.