Kendry Paez ‘very likely’ not to be at Chelsea next season
Chelsea supporters are unlikely to see Kendry Paez at Stamford Bridge next season following his arrival from Independiente del Valle.
The 18-year-old attacking midfielder has made a name for himself over in Ecuador, notching eight goals and five assists in 35 appearances this season and already has 17 international caps.
While the Blues’ attack is already stacked to the rafters, with Cole Palmer always occupying the attacking midfield position for Enzo Maresca, fans are extremely excited to welcome Paez to Stamford Bridge.
However, Mick Brown told Football Insider (15 April) that Palmer could be tempted to leave Chelsea this summer if an official offer were to be made amid concerns over his role under Maresca.
Despite this, it seems unlikely that Paez will remain in West London ahead of the 2025/26 campaign after the latest update.
Kendry Paez to be loaned out by Chelsea
Writing on BBC Sport (13 May), Nizaar Kinsella expects Paez to be loaned out this summer, and while this has not been confirmed by Chelsea, some sources believe it is highly likely.
The Blues, instead, could sign a brand-new winger, though that will depend on the futures of Jadon Sancho and Mykhailo Mudryk, with the latter facing legal issues.
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Kendry Paez | 70 | 13 | 6 |
Enzo Maresca preparing for summer of change at Stamford Bridge
Football Insider verdict
The Blues are in contention for a top-five finish, qualifying for the Champions League next season, as well as lifting the Europa Conference League title in Poland on Wednesday, 28 May.
That, however, has done little to lift the growing pressure off Maresca at Chelsea, with supporters extremely unhappy with the Italian’s playing style.
Another summer transfer window could certainly help his prospects at Stamford Bridge, and Christopher Nkunku is likely to lead a Chelsea exodus ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Robert Sanchez, Ben Chilwell, Joao Felix, and Noni Madueke have all been linked with exits before the summer transfer window, and those sales could help generate funds for some high-profile signings.
Football Insider understands that Chelsea are now frontrunners to sign Leroy Sane from Bayern Munich, and that could just be one of several exciting additions over the coming weeks.