Chelsea are targeting the free transfer of Jordan Henderson, 36, and the 35‑year‑old Danny Welbeck while still eyeing Maxence Lacroix at 26 for a £52m fee – a clear move away from the youth focus of recent years.

The Tuchel era saw a spree of expensive, older players: Raheem Sterling at 27 for up to £50m, Kalidou Koulibaly at 31 for £33m and Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang at 33 for £10.3m. None delivered the expected return, with Sterling’s form dipping, Koulibaly leaving after one season and Aubameyang failing to settle.

Since 2022, Chelsea has leaned on younger talent. Enzo Fernandez was snapped up for a British record £107m at 22, Moises Caicedo for a potential £115m, and Cole Palmer for £40m – all proving effective. Yet not all have succeeded, with Mudryk, Felix and Fofana struggling to justify their costs.

Under Xabi Alonso, the club aims to blend youth with experience. Owner Behdad Eghbali has said the model will be tweaked, adding depth while retaining a core of young players. Welbeck’s arrival would bolster attacking options for a season outside Europe, but could impact the future of younger forwards.