Chelsea are expected to be active in the upcoming summer transfer window and one young star has already set his sights on an exit amid interest from the Championship
England Under-19 international Leo Castledine looks likely to land a Championship move this summer with Chelsea ready to let the young midfielder leave permanently in order to pursue regular first-team football elsewhere.
Castledine, 19, was snapped up by the Blues after coming through the ranks at AFC Wimbledon and remains highly thought of by the newly minted Europa Conference League champions, who handed him his senior debut in the semi-finals of last year's Carabao Cup.
But Castledine is keen to play regularly and, with Chelsea willing to sanction a permanent exit, has no shortage of interest from clubs in the Championship ahead of the transfer window.
Castledine caught the eye on loan in League One with Shrewbury Town this season before a back injury curtailed his campaign in February. In total he made 26 appearances for Salop, scoring twice.
Chelsea are expected to be active in the transfer window with plenty of incomings and outgoings anticipated. Castledine joined the Blues back in March 2020 at the age of just 14 from Wimbledon before signing his first professional contract in the summer of 2022.
He is the son of former Wimbledon midfielder Stewart Castledine, who represented the south west Londoners between 1991 and 2000.
Chelsea are expected to offload a number of players at the end of the campaign, including some of those who spent the 2024-25 season out on loan.
Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell and Armando Broja are among those who will be moved on should suitable offers arrive while others could join them. In terms of incomings, Chelsea are pushing hard to sign a striker and are in the mix for Ipswich Town's Liam Delap.