Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix, Robert Sanchez & the 15 players Chelsea MUST sell in the summer transfer window

It is painfully, blindingly obvious that Chelsea need a new goalkeeper, and that is almost entirely the result of Robert Sanchez's haphazard displays this season. The Spaniard has the joint-most errors leading to goals in the entire Premier League (five) and he has caused countless heart-in-mouth moments for a wearied fanbase with his loose passing out from the back.

Maresca has consistently jumped to the shot-stopper's defence amid widespread criticism, but repeatedly dropping your so-called first choice isn't sustainable, and there is surely no way the club isn't searching for a new No.1 behind the scenes. They could look internally, with both Djordje Petrovic, who has shone on loan at Strasbourg, and young Belgian Mike Penders joining up with the squad in the summer.

Ironically, another Chelsea goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga, has enjoyed a fine season on loan at Bournemouth, but it's near impossible to see a route back to Stamford Bridge for the £72 million ($91m) man.

Instead, he is certain to form part of the club's summer clear-out, with a permanent move to the Cherries probably the most likely outcome. The sixth-most expensive signing in the Blues' history, they are set to make one hell of a loss.

Although he impressed on occasion in his debut season, Axel Disasi tumbled down the pecking order after Maresca was appointed in the summer, and it's now abundantly clear that his future lies away from Stamford Bridge.

Prone to some inexplicable errors, the centre-back was shipped out on loan to Aston Villa in January where he still isn't a starter, so you'd imagine Chelsea would do well to recoup the £39m ($52m) they spent on him less than two years ago.

Tosin Adarabioyo seemed like a shrewd free signing in the summer when he joined from west London rivals Fulham, but while he has brought experience and some leadership to a young squad, he often hasn't looked cut out for the level Chelsea are aspiring to.

The lumbering centre-half has been caught out both for pace and positionally this season, and with no indication that he is going to become a regular starter, it would make sense to cash in for pure profit in the summer.

Another recent centre-back signing that hasn't worked for Chelsea. Injury-prone Benoit Badiashile has been a bit-part player even when he has been available, and at this stage it's hard to imagine him becoming a key player for the Blues.

The club faces another summer where they may struggle to find buyers for their unwanted players, and Badiashile - a fine ball-player but often-hapless defender - is another star who they are likely to make a significant loss on when the transfer window opens.

Once a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge as a flying wing-back, Ben Chilwell's Chelsea career seems set to come to something of a sad end in the summer. His future might depend on whether Maresca keeps his job, having been exiled by the Italian, but Marc Cucurella has nailed down the starting left-back spot regardless.

The England international's loan to Crystal Palace hasn't exactly gone to plan, as he has struggled to break into Oliver Glasner's starting line-up, but there should still be no shortage of interest in one of the best attacking full-backs around on his day.

Chelsea's midfield is going to be loaded in the summer when Dario Essugo joins from Sporting CP and Andrey Santos returns from a very successful loan with Strasbourg, which means Lesley Ugochukwu will be pushed even further down the pecking order.

The Frenchman has done little to suggest he is going to make a first-team breakthrough anytime soon after spending the season with Southampton, and the best outcome for all parties at this stage is surely a clean break.

One of Chelsea's bewildering summer arrivals, it is highly unlikely that Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is going to last more than one season at Stamford Bridge, although that isn't really through any fault of his own.

Despite being signed for £30m ($40m) as an ideal fit for Maresca's midfield system following their time together at Leicester, Dewsbury-Hall has been a bit-part player at best. For similar reasons to Ugochukwu, the Blues should look to cut their losses rather than drag things out.

Among a host of players brutally frozen out by Maresca despite being fit and ready to play for the first time in a long time, Carney Chukwuemeka will be another victim of Chelsea's midfield overhaul this summer.

He is attempting to overcome his injury problems on loan at Borussia Dortmund and he is potentially playing for a permanent transfer to the German giants in what remains of the campaign. It could be a move that suits all parties.

Omari Kellyman's transfer to Chelsea from Aston Villa - which had the air of a cynical deal to outmanoeuvre the Premier League's Profit & Sustainability Rules - has been an unmitigated disaster.

Having signed for an eye-watering £19m ($25m) last summer with just a handful of senior appearances to his name, the midfielder has effectively missed the entire season with a hamstring injury. Kellyman has undergone surgery, but it's difficult to see him being kept around once he is fit again.

Chelsea fans never really warmed to Raheem Sterling and it is abundantly clear that his days at Stamford Bridge are numbered after two underwhelming campaigns and a disappointing loan to London rivals Arsenal in 2024-25.

The problem the Blues will have is finding a suitor willing to take on the winger's whopping reported £325,000 weekly wage, and they are certain to take a huge hit on the £48m ($57m) they paid Man City three years ago.

Christopher Nkunku has enjoyed an injury-free season after a debut season that was plagued, but having failed to nail down a starting place under Maresca, a string of disappointing performances has seen excitement over his attacking potential dissipate.

The Frenchman came close to joining Bayern Munich on loan in January and it would be little surprise if he sought a permanent exit in the summer. It simply hasn't worked out, and the attacker's sale could well make way for Liam Delap to arrive.

Another failed 2024 summer transfer, Chelsea and Maresca became the latest club and manager to be unable to find a way to get the best out of enigmatic Portuguese attacker Joao Felix.

A January loan to AC Milan has been uninspiring and it seems another summer transfer is almost inevitable. Where he ends up next is anyone's guess as Felix looks to get a faltering career back on track, but Chelsea should be moving him on as soon as possible.

Armando Broja will likely feature high up on Chelsea's 'to sell' list as the summer transfer window approaches, having had bad luck with injuries which have held him back as he tries to prove his worth at the highest level.

Everton are highly unlikely to make the striker's loan move permanent, so the Blues face a challenge to find a new home for an academy graduate who is yet to score in 2024-25. If they can find a buyer, his sale would represent pure profit.

Another Boehly-Clearlake signing that just hasn't worked out, David Datro Fofana is destined for pastures new - but he is among a host of underperforming players Chelsea may struggle to shift.

The Ivorian forward's season was curtailed by a serious knee injury during a loan with Turkish club Goztepe, after he had failed to capture the imagination during spells with Union Berlin and Burnley last term. A fresh start feels like a necessity, if someone is willing to roll the dice on him.