Chelsea ready to loan Acheampong as Alonso trims center-back options

Josh Acheampong could be allowed to leave Chelsea on loan this summer as Xabi Alonso reshapes his defensive group, according to sources. Alonso has made clear he wants only four or five senior center-backs, and Chelsea currently have nine on the books. Maxence Lacroix is the new addition, with Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Aaron Anselmino, Axel Disasi and Mamadou Sarr also part of that list. Trevoh Chalobah, meanwhile, is expected to sign a long-term contract with Como after the Serie A club agreed a deal worth more than €35 million (£30m) with Chelsea. Chelsea had reportedly viewed Acheampong as untouchable last month, with plans for him to stay and fight for a place. The 20-year-old academy graduate, an England Under-21 international, is now considered a candidate to be loaned out for more playing time. Acheampong made his Premier League debut as a 17-year-old against Tottenham in May 2024. Since then he has made 43 more appearances and scored twice. While primarily a center-back, he also filled in at right-back during a season in which Chelsea finished 10th in the league and reached the FA Cup final. Chelsea have been active in the market, announcing Danny Welbeck, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson this week. They join Lacroix, Morgan Rogers and Marco Palestra as Alonso's first signings, with Geovany Quenda, Emmanuel Emegha, Denner and Dastan Satpaev also arriving after deals were struck before Alonso took charge. The squad is in Hong Kong for pre-season, facing Juventus on Wednesday at Kai Tak Stadium.