Chelsea are prepared to let go of up to three forwards as Xabi Alonso continues to reshape his squad ahead of the September transfer deadline, with Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu all facing uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge.
Delap, who joined Chelsea last summer, struggled to make an impact in his first season in west London, managing just two goals across all competitions as he operated as understudy to first-choice striker Joao Pedro. With Alonso now installed as head coach, there is little indication that Delap will see a significant increase in playing time, as the Spanish manager appears set to continue relying on Joao Pedro as his primary striker. That situation has reportedly caught the attention of Everton and Nottingham Forest, both of whom are said to be interested in the England international.
Jackson, meanwhile, has returned to Chelsea following a loan spell at Bayern Munich and finds himself attracting interest from Aston Villa. Chelsea are believed to be open to selling the Senegalese forward for the right fee, though any deal with Villa would come with complications. Premier League regulations prevent a club from having more than one player on loan from the same parent club simultaneously, meaning Villa would only be able to pursue a permanent transfer for Jackson rather than another loan arrangement.
Even a permanent move, however, is not entirely straightforward due to UEFA's regulations surrounding player swaps. Under UEFA's transfer rules, any deals between two clubs involving players moving in both directions within a 45-day window are automatically classified as swap deals. Furthermore, even if that 45-day period has passed, transactions between the same two clubs in the same transfer window could still be deemed a swap if any contractual link between the deals can be established. This regulatory nuance could complicate negotiations between Chelsea and Villa should further transfer business between the two clubs arise in this window.
The third forward whose future is in question is Marc Guiu, the young Spanish striker who joined Chelsea from Barcelona in 2024. Guiu has struggled for regular first-team opportunities since his arrival and is understood to be eager for more minutes on the pitch. He spent time on loan at newly-promoted Sunderland last season, but that spell was cut short after just a month when Chelsea recalled him following Jackson's departure on loan to Bayern Munich.
Chelsea are said to be willing to sanction either a loan or permanent departure for Guiu before the transfer window closes on September 1. While the 20-year-old has drawn interest from several clubs, none of those discussions are understood to be at an advanced stage as things stand.
Away from the striker situation, Chelsea are also progressing talks over the future of highly-rated young winger Ryan Kavuma-McQueen. The Blues are reportedly negotiating with Championship side Portsmouth regarding a season-long loan move for the youngster, with assurances over regular playing time said to be a key part of the ongoing discussions between the two clubs.
Alonso's efforts to trim and reshape his attacking options reflect the broader overhaul taking place at Stamford Bridge as the new head coach looks to establish his preferred setup. With Joao Pedro seemingly cemented as the leading striker, the futures of Delap, Jackson and Guiu now hinge on how the next few weeks of the transfer window unfold.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.