Chelsea have made Dario Essugo available for a temporary switch away from the club following the signings of Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson.
The midfielder arrived at the club from Sporting CP for £18million last year, yet his first campaign at Stamford Bridge was severely hampered by injury issues. The 21-year-old featured three times during the Club World Cup last summer, but managed just over 100 minutes across five appearances in the 2025/26 season – with none of those coming from the kickoff.
With Barco and Henderson increasing competition in midfield alongside existing options Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Enzo Fernandez and Reece James, Alonso and the club’s football leadership have concluded that a temporary spell elsewhere would serve Essugo well.
With the club missing out on European competition, opportunities for peripheral figures such as Essugo will be limited. Multiple Premier League sides, including Hull City, are eager to secure the Portuguese midfielder’s services on a season-long basis, while BlueCo-controlled Strasbourg represents another possible destination.
Chelsea retain the capacity to send one additional player to their French affiliate, in line with FIFA regulations, with Genesis Antwi and Filip Jorgensen both already at the Stade de la Meinau for the campaign.
A move to Strasbourg could also materialise for Mykhailo Mudryk, though sources close to the Ukrainian international suggest he favours remaining in England’s top flight. The winger, whose comeback was confirmed last month following more than 18 months away from the game after violating anti-doping rules, has been made available for a temporary exit this term, with several English clubs expressing strong interest.
Leeds United had an approach for Mudryk turned down by Chelsea towards the end of last week. The Yorkshire club maintains interest in the 25-year-old wide player and could return with another proposal prior to the September 1 cutoff.
Meanwhile, Jamie Gittens is poised to remain at Chelsea for the upcoming season. The 22-year-old attacking player showed promise during pre-season preparations, and Alonso is understood to be keen on having him as a squad option for his first top-flight managerial campaign.
Mamadou Sarr and Aaron Anselmino both face possible temporary departures, though negotiations for the latter have proven more challenging after he sustained an injury during the club’s overseas pre-season schedule. Sarr has attracted interest from both domestic and overseas clubs. Al-Hilal are pursuing a permanent acquisition of the Senegal international, though Chelsea favour a loan arrangement.
Insiders at Stamford Bridge anticipate Tosin Adarabioyo will leave the club on a permanent basis before the transfer window closes. The 28-year-old defender has generated significant interest from clubs including Sevilla, Marseille, Benfica and several others. Chelsea are willing to part with Tosin for the appropriate valuation as they look to reduce their central defensive options.
Axel Disasi appears set to join Crystal Palace on a temporary basis for the season. The south London club are expected to secure the French defender’s services via a straightforward loan without any purchase clause or obligation.
Liam Delap has attracted interest from multiple suitors, including Everton. The Merseyside club are understood to be among several Premier League outfits who have expressed admiration for the out-of-favour Chelsea forward. The west London side have placed a £50m asking price on Delap, who struggled to make an impact during his first season at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are seeking £65m for Nicolas Jackson, with numerous clubs monitoring his situation over the coming days. Aston Villa appear to be the current frontrunners for the 25-year-old’s signature. Unai Emery is eager for a reunion with Jackson, having previously coached him at Villarreal, and with Ollie Watkins facing multiple offers from Al-Hilal, a transfer for the Chelsea striker could progress later in the transfer window.
Marc Guiu is anticipated to leave on a permanent basis, according to sources at the club. Chelsea are also working to secure a permanent exit for outcast David Datro Fofana.