Xabi Alonso’s project at Chelsea is still in its early weeks, but the Spanish coach already has to resolve one of the biggest challenges of preseason.

The manager currently has a squad of 41 players at his disposal. A figure that will force the club to accelerate several departures before the transfer window closes.

A difficult squad to manage

The number of available players is far greater than what a team would normally use over the course of a season. The squad includes five goalkeepers, nine center-backs and eight forwards, in addition to several academy players who took part in the preseason tour.

The list does not even include Deivid Washington, who is working with the reserve team, or the nine youngsters who traveled to cover for players who had not yet returned after taking part in the World Cup.

The departure operation takes center stage

Chelsea has already begun reducing its squad and has generated approximately €132.3 million through several deals.

Andrey Santos was transferred to Manchester United, Marc Cucurella joined Real Madrid and Tyrique George continued his career at Everton, while Alejandro Garnacho moved to Aston Villa on loan.

However, the club still needs to find destinations for several players. Marc Guiu, Axel Disasi, Benoît Badiashile, Caleb Wiley, Gabriel Slonina and David Datro Fofana are among the leading candidates to leave Stamford Bridge.

Decisions until the final day

Xabi Alonso acknowledged that the planning could change until the transfer window closes and emphasized the need to act quickly whenever an opportunity arises.

The coach believes it is essential to maintain a clear plan, although he is aware that arrivals and departures could alter the structure of his team until the very last moment.