Chelsea are progressing in slashing their number of centre backs before the summer window closes, with Xabi Alonso only interested in working with up to five in the coming season.

The Blues currently have nine in total on their books, though French duo Axel Disasi, 28, and Benoit Badiashile, 25, are set to join Crystal Palace and Napoli on respective loans.

Chelsea sources say Tosin Adarabioyo is currently considered likely to leave in a permanent sale with clubs in the Premier League and across Europe interested in the 28-year-old.

Insiders add others such as Josh Acheampong and Mamadou Sarr are under consideration to either stay with the club or leave on loan. Cobham graduate Acheampong has attracted significant interest this summer, though Chelsea have always maintained he is not up for sale.

Aaron Anselmino’s hamstring problem picked up in pre-season made his situation more complicated.

He previously appeared to be heading for another loan after spending time with Boca Juniors, Borussia Dortmund and Strasbourg. There has been no update on his injury.

Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana and Maxence Lacroix, who joined this summer from Palace for £52million, are Chelsea’s other centre backs. Jorrel Hato can also be used in central defence by Alonso as well as left back and left wing back.

Fofana finished Chelsea’s pre-season having played more minutes than any other player under Alonso.

However, he is serving a two-game suspension, meaning he will miss their Premier League opener away at Fulham this Monday. That follows the red card he received in the final game of last season in a 2-1 loss to Sunderland.

It was in Sydney, Australia during Chelsea's pre-season tour where Alonso admitted he only wanted 'four or five' centre backs to work with.

At that time, he had 10, with Trevoh Chalobah having since been sold to Italian side Como, managed by Cesc Fabregas.