Chelsea must offload 16 players in 25 days

Chelsea faces a pressing squad crisis with 41 senior players on their books and just 25 days remaining to reduce that number significantly, according to BBC Sport. New manager Xabi Alonso is determined to drastically cut the squad size, aware that players sitting out of action cannot be good for team morale and harmony.

To reach a manageable squad of around 25 players, Chelsea must offload at least 16 footballers by early September. The task is complicated by Fifa's recent ban on "bomb squad" practices — where players were previously sidelined — meaning the club must find genuine exits for unwanted players.

Several moves are already underway. Trevoh Chalobah is close to joining Como for £31 million with add-ons, while goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen will join sister club Strasbourg on loan. In defence, Alonso has indicated he needs only "four or five" centre-backs from the current nine, with Disasi and Badiashile available for sale and Mamadou Sarr expected to depart on loan.