Chelsea ramp up squad clear-out with Joao Felix in talks over Benfica transfer

Chelsea want to get Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku off their books as part of a squad clear-out before the start of the new season.

  • Felix in talks with
  • Blues also want to ditch Nkunku
  • Nicolas Jackson linked with exit

Chelsea ramp up squad clear-out with Joao Felix in talks over Benfica transferChelsea ramp up squad clear-out with Joao Felix in talks over Benfica transferChelsea ramp up squad clear-out with Joao Felix in talks over Benfica transfer

Chelsea are looking to shift a number of unwanted squad members before the start of the new season, according to the Evening Standard. Felix is one such player, having moved to Stamford Bridge permanently last summer before joining on loan in January due to a lack of game time. He is now in talks over a return to former club Benfica with a reported price tag of £35 million (€40.3 million/$46.8 million), with the Blues not including him in their plans moving forward.

Chelsea also hope to cut ties with international Nkunku, who had an injury-affected first season in west London before managing just three goals in 2024-25, with the majority of his opportunities coming in the . The attacker has been linked with a return to the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, while Serie A giants are also supposedly interested.

Other players at risk of being cast aside this summer include Raheem Sterling, who had an uninspiring season on loan at rivals Arsenal, as well as Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu and Armando Broja. Chelsea could also be open to letting striker Jackson leave, with said to be keeping an eye on his situation, though they are not trying to force the international out of Stamford Bridge.

Fresh off their Club triumph, Chelsea will be looking to make their presence felt in the Premier League title race and the next season. Enzo Maresca has already seen Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Estavao arrive this summer among other talented youngsters.