Chelsea will miss out on Europe next season after finishing 10th in a turbulent campaign that saw Enzo Maresca depart and Liam Rosenior dismissed.
Alonso now faces a series of tough calls.
The goalkeeping department looks settled: Robert Sanchez is set to be joined by highly rated 21-year-old Belgian Mike Penders after a standout loan at Strasbourg, with Teddy Sharman-Lowe likely as the third choice.
At right-back, captain Reece James—who can also operate in midfield—is alongside Gusto and Palestra. Chelsea have set a £75m valuation on Gusto amid interest from Manchester City. On the left, they have Jorrel Hato and are close to sealing a £16.3m deal for Chavarria.
At centre-back, there are currently nine options, and Alonso has said the group must be trimmed to “four or five.” Disasi and Badiashile are available for transfer, with Mamadou Sarr expected to go on loan. That would leave new signing Lacroix battling Levi Colwill, Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo. The future of Argentina U20 defender Aaron Anselmino is unclear, though another loan seems likely after spells at Borussia Dortmund and Strasbourg.
In midfield, Chelsea have placed a £120m price on Fernandez, who is exploring his options, though the club are also happy to keep him. He’s joined by Moises Caicedo, a fit-again Romeo Lavia, the versatile Barco, Henderson and Dario Essugo. Essugo, 21, is open to a loan to secure regular minutes after an injury-disrupted season.
In attack, the surprise return of Mykhailo Mudryk is another puzzle to solve. The club say all options remain open and are assessing his fitness after 20 months out due to a suspension following a positive test for meldonium. Jamie Gittens offers a left-wing alternative, while Pedro Neto and new arrival Geovany Quenda primarily play on the right. Cole Palmer and Rogers are the two No. 10s, with Estevao Willian capable across the front line.
Chelsea also want to carry three centre-forwards next season. Alongside Joao Pedro and summer signing Welbeck, one more striker is likely to stay—Emegha is the leading candidate, though there’s uncertainty with Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap also on the books.
There’s some positional overlap, but based on current information, this is the most accurate projection of Chelsea’s squad:
Projected Chelsea squad: Sanchez, Penders, Sharman-Lowe, James, Palestra, Tosin, Fofana, Lacroix, Acheampong, Colwill, Hato, Chavarria, Caicedo, Fernandez, Barco, Lavia, Henderson, Quenda, Neto, Palmer, Estevao, Rogers, Gittens, Emegha, Joao Pedro, Welbeck.
Available for loan: Guiu, Wiley, Kellyman, Mheuka, Walsh, Kavuma-McQueen, Kendry Paez.
Available for sale/uncertain futures (with target fees where listed): Badiashile (£30m), Disasi (£25m), Guiu (£25m), Datro Fofana, Delap, Jackson (£65m), Slonina, Gusto (£75m), Fernandez (£120m), Emegha, Neto, Essugo.