August is traditionally the height of selling season at Chelsea, and centre-back will be a focus of outgoing activity from Stamford Bridge this month.

Even with Trevoh Chalobah set to join Como of Italy for a fixed fee of €30million (£26m, $35m) plus €6m in potential add-ons, new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso still has 10 senior players capable of playing in central defence. As a season without the extra games brought by European football nears, he confirmed in a press conference last week that he only wants to work with four or five at the position.

How did the west London club get to this point, who will now be sold, who is likely to be loaned out and who is firmly in Alonso’s plans?

The Athletic’s Chelsea correspondents Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey have their say.

Tosin Adarabioyo

Simon Johnson: Signed as a free agent when his contract expired at neighbours Fulham in 2024, Tosin has enjoyed the role of being one of the Chelsea squad’s few leaders.

At 28, he was the oldest player to represent the club last season. His biggest contribution goes largely unseen, as he is a positive influence inside the dressing room and at the training ground. Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck have been signed in recent days to help with that, but this does not mean Tosin now needs to move on.

His form has divided the fanbase. Being one of those players who was in and out of the side had an impact last season. However, Tosin showed against Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-final win that he can make a difference when called upon.

Tosin’s role as a squad player or back-up centre-back has been cemented even more now with the arrival of Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace. But if he is content to play just a few games here and there without complaint, it is worth keeping him around. It would certainly make his pal Cole Palmer happy.

Verdict: Keep

Benoit Badiashile

Chelsea would want about £30m for Benoit Badiashile (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Liam Twomey: When he arrived from Monaco in January 2023, Badiashile was considered by Chelsea as one of the three best young left-sided centre-backs in Europe (the other two being their academy graduate Levi Colwill and Josko Gvardiol, who joined Manchester City the following summer). It’s fair to say the shine has come off the Frenchman in the three and a half years since.

Last season, with Colwill sidelined long-term by an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury, was Badiashile’s golden opportunity to fulfil his undoubted potential and properly establish himself. Instead, he found himself behind Chalobah and youngster Jorrel Hato by the end of the campaign. It’s time for him to move on.

Verdict: Sell (asking price £30m)

Levi Colwill

Johnson: There is no debate about this one: Colwill is staying. Chelsea regard him as one of their ‘untouchables’ and are not interested in any offers.

You could argue his immense value became clearest when he was sidelined for much of last season with that ACL injury. Chelsea missed him badly. And when the England international came back in May, he shone in high-profile games at Liverpool and against Manchester City in the FA Cup final, despite having only just returned to the squad.

Colwill, 23, has set a target to become one of the best defenders in the Premier League and Chelsea’s defence will essentially be built around him. Expect his passing ability to be heavily utilised by Alonso, too.

Verdict: Keep

Axel Disasi

Axel Disasi was part of the West Ham United squad relegated last season (Alex Broadway/Getty Images)

Twomey: You sense West Ham United’s relegation to the Championship complicated matters a little where Disasi is concerned. They were the logical destination for him after a productive loan spell on the other side of London in the second half of last season and may still buy him, but suitors dropping down to the second division always changes the dynamic.

Disasi is a decent centre-back well suited physically to Premier League football. Those physical characteristics were part of why Chelsea bought him from Monaco in August 2023. Then head coach Mauricio Pochettino valued him but he was deemed not good enough on the ball to play in successor Enzo Maresca’s system. He should be able to find a good home.

Verdict: Sell (asking price is £25million)

Aaron Anselmino

Johnson: The 21-year-old Argentinian’s lack of progress at Chelsea is not due to any lack of ability. Bought from Boca Juniors for a fee in the region of £17million in 2024, he has had three spells on loan since then to develop (one back at Boca, the others with Borussia Dortmund and sister club Strasbourg).

But he has made just 20 league appearances during that time and has yet to represent Chelsea in a competitive match. This is due to injury, mainly hamstring issues.

Anselmino is rated within the club, but has just not been able to get the run of games together to establish himself. That is why another loan this season makes sense.

Verdict: Loan

Mamadou Sarr

Twomey: Sarr became a victim of Chelsea’s muddled thinking last season. Brought back from a productive loan at Strasbourg in January to bolster new coach Liam Rosenior’s defensive options, he largely became a spectator after enduring a difficult night playing as a right-back against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in March.

He remains highly rated at Stamford Bridge and has an intriguing blend of tools that could make him a very good centre-back but needs room to grow from his mistakes and Chelsea cannot offer him that this season.

Verdict: Loan (to an English club)

Josh Acheampong

Josh Acheampong may need to go on loan to get regular minutes this season (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Johnson: Acheampong shares a few similarities with Colwill. They both came through Chelsea’s academy, are comfortable with the ball at their feet and have been put on the club’s ‘Not for sale’ list. However, that is where the positive comparisons end for now.

Colwill is assured of a starting role this season if fit, Acheampong is not.

Acheampong has made 44 appearances since his debut in 2024, but needs to be playing every week for his potential to be fulfilled.

Before establishing himself in the first team, Colwill has loans at Huddersfield Town and Brighton & Hove Albion. Rather than watching too much of Chelsea from the sidelines, this is what Acheampong needs if he is to make the next step.

There will need to be assurances from the club who borrow him about regular appearances, though, to make his loan worthwhile.

Verdict: Loan

Wesley Fofana

Twomey: After a promising 2024-25 as Colwill’s regular centre-back partner, last season was a major step back for Fofana and it appears to have cost him his starting berth at Stamford Bridge.

New signing Lacroix is very likely to now be ahead of him at club level as well as for France’s national team, and Fofana will need to continue to stay fit and curb his more erratic tendencies if he wants regular game time again.

Fofana is not looking to leave, but he faces a much tougher fight for minutes this season.

Verdict: Keep

Jorrel Hato

Jorrel Hato’s versatility is a useful asset for Chelsea (Jess Hornby/Getty Images)

Johnson: There is a telling caveat to Hato’s situation in that he can play left-back as well as left centre-back. This is already deemed key for his future because, now that Marc Cucurella has joined Real Madrid, the 20-year-old Netherlands international is being lined up to play a lot on the left flank, where Cucurella excelled.

Yet Chelsea are also pursuing Pep Chavarria of Rayo Vallecano, who can play in that position too, so Hato could still find himself operating centrally. Should Colwill need a rest or suffer another injury, Hato will be a major option to replace him as well.

Bought from Ajax for a fee in excess of €40million last summer, Chelsea already see that as money well spent and will ignore any bid to sign him.

Verdict: Keep

Maxence Lacroix

Twomey: He only just got here! As the club’s top centre-back target this summer and one of the ready-made Premier League signings Chelsea sources had signalled they would pursue in the current window, Lacroix has clearly been brought in with a view to playing a lot of games this season.

It would be a surprise if he and Colwill did not end up being Alonso’s preferred centre-back pairing in the Premier League. Lacroix’s qualities complement those of the Englishman on paper, and his recovery speed will be vital to the success of any high defensive line.

Verdict: Keep

August brings a most unusual situation for the Edmonton Oilers: There’s cap room, and no clear roster needs. It isn’t hyperbole to suggest the last time the franchise could make that claim was the day before Wayne Gretzky was traded in 1988. In fact, it happened this week 38 years ago. That’s a long time to be out of balance.

The team has three goalies, nine defencemen and 15 forwards vying for 23 roster spots, meaning trades or waivers will be part of the plan over the next six weeks.

The bigger news may come from all that cap room. Oilers general manager Stan Bowman is sitting on $4.7 million of estimated cap space, according to PuckPedia, with the ability to add a significant piece before the season. As the club has no specific area of need, that frees management to pursue the best available player who shakes loose between now and the end of September.

Who could it be?

Opening-night roster candidates

The Oilers’ projected roster hasn’t changed much since July 1. At that time, the projected 23-man roster included 13 forwards, seven defencemen and three goalies:

• Centre: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Jason Dickinson, Josh Samanski
• Left wing: Matt Savoie, Vasily Podkolzin, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Colton Dach
• Right wing: Zach Hyman, Ike Howard, Kasperi Kapanen, Trent Frederic, Mathieu Joseph
• Left defence: Mattias Ekholm, Jake Walman, Ryan Shea, Shakir Mukhamadullin
• Right defence: Evan Bouchard, Connor Murphy, Ty Emberson
• Goaltending: Frederik Andersen, Tristan Jarry, Devon Levi

The group above represents a significant upgrade in important areas, like goaltending and the penalty kill. Some fans have expressed worry about replacing Darnell Nurse’s minutes, but the veteran combination of Jake Walman and Ryan Shea gives new coach Mike Babcock attractive options.

The group of roster contenders who are outside the 23 names above represents opportunity and challenge for Bowman. This fall, he’ll need to sneak several players through waivers. Here are the players not listed above who could either push for a job in camp or emerge as possible recalls during the season:

• Centre: Viljami Marjala
• Left wing: Mattias Janmark, Max Jones
• Right wing: Quinn Hutson
• Left defence: Spencer Stastney, Damien Carfagna, Riley Stillman
• Right defence: Josh Brown, Alec Regula
• Goalie: Matt Tomkins

The primary waiver worry is Spencer Stastney, who played 66 regular-season games with the Oilers and Nashville Predators last season. Alec Regula, who struggled over 29 games with Edmonton last season, recovered his game after a midseason demotion to the AHL Bakersfield Condors. He is a righty defender who has more range of skills than Stastney, so he might get claimed if he shows well in camp.

Mattias Janmark has the look of a veteran on the outside looking in as players prepare to head to training camp. He has a 10-team no-trade list and could make the Oilers if he arrives in camp completely healthy, but was injured much of last year and the team has since signed Mathieu Joseph to fill that role. It’s possible the Oilers cut Janmark loose this fall.

Potential target: Shane Wright

Bowman’s biggest goal should be adding young players who can play now and also project as difference-makers in the future. Wright of the Seattle Kraken could be such a player. He is the most intriguing name left among those rumoured to be available over the first portion of the summer.

The Kraken are a goal suppression team, so Wright has played 169 NHL games in a system that doesn’t play to his strengths. He went the wrong way offensively last year under new coach Lane Lambert, but his overall resume has interesting things to offer. Here’s a look at his two NHL seasons:

All numbers five-on-five via Natural Stat Trick

His rookie campaign in 2024-25 saw coach Dan Bylsma use Wright most often with Jared McCann on a line that faced mid-level and lower opposition. The line thrived, and Wright delivered 19 goals (fifth on the team) as a 20-year-old rookie, which had to be encouraging.

Last season, with new coach Lambert, he fell to just 12 goals. Wright was placed with rookie Berkly Catton on a depth line that outscored opponents 11-10 but didn’t get much done offensively. The duo’s 1.76 goals per 60 was a far cry from the impressive 4.12 goals per 60 Wright and McCann produced in 2024-25.

A new coach can alter the trajectory of a prospect, even one chosen No. 4 (as is the case with Wright). The trade cost for Wright could be high, but for an Oilers team looking for a difference-maker, Wright might be the most attractive option on the market.

Potential target: Kirill Marchenko

Bowman has money to spend. The team will want to have about $1 million for the deadline, but if an expensive player shakes loose in the next two months, Edmonton is in a good position to make a move.

The biggest name that could be available is Columbus Blue Jackets winger Marchenko. In late June, his camp told Kevin Weekes he was unlikely to extend with the team, meaning the Blue Jackets have a problem. If he plays this season and doesn’t sign, Marchenko will be a restricted free agent one year removed from full free agency.

The issue doesn’t have to be solved now, but the organization could decide to offload him in the months to come. He is an exceptional player on a value contract, and the ask on a deal would be far more than Edmonton could afford at this time. Still, if the situation changes, Bowman should make the call.

Others

I recently wrote about Kirby Dach of the Montreal Canadiens and Matt Poitras of the Boston Bruins. Both players would fit the description as good late-summer additions. Both men are right-handed centres, as is Wright. However, Wright may be a better fit on right wing. He has more of a 200-foot game and might be a perfect addition to the second line with Leon Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin.

The Oilers could sign any number of free agents who remain available. Vladimir Tarasenko is often mentioned, and the price on all free agents is going down by the day. Edmonton signed Jack Roslovic to a value deal after the start of the season one year ago, and something similar could happen again this fall.

Based on the Oilers’ need for young players who can join the club and grow with the young players on the roster, Wright is the best available choice.

Manchester United captain Maya Le Tissier says bringing through young players will be a main focus of the club’s new head coach following Marc Skinner’s departure.

As The Athletic reported on Monday, Skinner left Manchester United after a mutual termination of his contract. The 43-year-old told staff on Sunday evening he was stepping away, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.

The club expects to appoint a new head coach swiftly — background checks have already been completed on potential successors — and the club’s view is that a new leader of the women’s operation will bring fresh energy and a renewed ambition.

There is also an expectation that the new manager will deliver on United’s new direction of bringing through academy prospects into the first team.

Speaking to media the day after Skinner’s exit, senior players Ella Toone and Le Tissier said neither had been involved in discussions regarding the club’s search for a new manager.

“As players, it’s about what we do on the pitch. We don’t focus on the external noise of what’s happening at the club,” Toone said.

Toone spoke to the media following Skinner’s exit (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

“We’re focussing on ourselves and whatever decisions happen higher up, then that’s on them and we’ve got to remain focussed and ready for the start of the season.”

Asked whether either player had been provided assurances by the club after accusations of limited investment into the women’s team, Le Tissier said: “I think the club have been pretty clear with what they’ve said, bringing through the youth. They’ve always done that historically. They’ve been pretty clear with that.

“When we speak to the new manager, the ambitions will be clear.”

The England international added: “Me and Tooney are at Man United because we want to win and we’ll be doing everything we can to make that happen.”

The Athletic reported this week director of football operations Ameesh Manek informed first-team players last Monday that United would be following a “sustainable long-term” investment model, while prioritising placing faith in young players in a bid to play “exciting attacking” football. It was also said that two more signings would arrive before the new season: a central defender and a left-winger.

On what type of manager she would like to see replace Skinner, Toone said: “The club’s ambition now is to bring through the youth, so you need someone who’s going to get the best out of those players, but also look after the older ones in the group.

“No matter who comes in, we want someone who’s just going to give 100 per cent, improve us as players and as a team and get us playing that attacking football that United wants us to play.”

Both players praised Skinner’s efforts throughout his five-year tenure, which saw United reach four cup finals, lift their first major trophy (the FA Cup in 2024) and reach the quarter-finals of last season’s Champions League.

“He’s done a lot for both of us as players,” Toone said. “No matter who manages at this club, when you don’t get good results or whatever, you come under pressure. That’s because you’re at a big club like Manchester United, we want to win. He was under a lot of scrutiny. But he kept going, he turned up every day. He brought energy. We can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done.”

“It was obviously not something that you wanted to hear, a manager committing to this club for five years, putting everything in every single day to this club, and now they’re leaving,” Le Tissier added. “There’s been a lot of challenges, but also a lot of really nice moments that we’ve had with him as well. It was said but now we move on now onto a new manager.”