Chelsea are set to make another flurry of moves in the upcoming summer transfer window and that could mean some big-name exits
Chelsea could be set to sell as many as 15 players over the summer transfer window including Raheem Sterling, Conor Gallagher and Armando Broja.Chelsea could be set to sell as many as 15 players over the summer transfer window including Raheem Sterling, Conor Gallagher and Armando Broja.
There's no doubt that of all the teams across the Premier League over the last few seasons, Chelsea have been the ones to rule over the transfer market.
Whether or not that's actually been in their favour is a different discussion, but the constant stream of players both in and out of what appears to be the Stamford Bridge revolving door doesn't look like it'll end any time soon. The Blues have made some of the most high-profile moves in world football over the last year, including two £105m plus moves for midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.
Those, coupled with a £62m move for Mykhailo Mudryk, a £75m swoop for defender Wesley Fofana and a £52m deal for Christopher Nkunku over the last few seasons, have seen the Blues spending power heighten, even amid an ownership change that has seen U.S billionaire Todd Boehly become the new face of the Blues boardroom.
However, manager Mauricio Pochettino's inconsistency on the pitch has led many to once again call for a culling of stars and an influx of new ones, much like what the Argentinian had enforced when he arrived in June of last year when he oversaw the exits of 18 first-team players over the summer.
Boehly and co. won't be too enthusiastic about what their multi-year deals and insistence on bringing in young, raw talents to build the club's future in sacrifice of the present day have done to their early relationship with the fanbase, but there is still time to fix that. There are many who'll be hoping for more experienced players to come through the door over the summer, but supporters must understand that selling is just as important to the club as buying.
With Boehly's strategy around the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules in place, it's essential for the club to keep their net spend as close as the regulations will allow them, and that will mean having to let players go. With all that being said, here are the X players that could leave Stamford Bridge at the end of this season.
Marc Cucurella
Having arrived at Stamford Bridge in a huge deal from Brighton, many supporters would've wanted a lot more out of the Seagulls' 2021/22 Player of the Season. However, he's struggled to fit into the Blues squad with inconsistent minutes since the Spaniard's arrival in 2022 while competing with Ben Chilwell.
His current injury has meant that a small rebound of good form at right-back under Pochettino this season is likely to be quickly forgotten about by many, leaving him as a potential target for teams across Europe.
Thiago Silva
Chelsea's main man defensively over the past few seasons, it almost feels like Thiago Silva has signed ten one-year extensions with the Blues at this point. Having helped the club win the Champions League just a few years ago, he's no doubt provided stability in an ever-changing backline.
However, it's unlikely he'll sign yet another one-year deal with the club, having reached the age of 39 back in September last year. Whether he retires as a Blues player or leaves on a free when his contract runs out, he'll no doubt go out as a fan favourite.
Trevoh Chalobah
Two years ago, Trevoh Chalobah looked like a piece of the Chelsea puzzle destined to help usher the club into a new, bright and brilliant future. Now, a grim reality has kicked in, which has seen the 24-year-old set to leave Stamford Bridge.
Talks of a move to Bayern Munich over recent months broke down, but it seems inevitable, with both the lack of minutes due to injury and the poor performances when he has played this season, that Chalobah won't be wearing a Chelsea shirt next season.
Malang Sarr
Chelsea's forgotten centre-back, Malang Sarr, might go down as one of the Premier League's worst-ever signings. Having arrived at the Blues on a five-year deal in August 2020, he's played just 65 games in all competitions since then, with only 21 of those actually for Chelsea.
Conor Gallagher
Arguably Chelsea's best player this season, interim captain Conor Gallagher, is still yet to pen a new deal with his boyhood club, despite an obvious attempt to get it done. The star himself has spoken about his contract situation in post-match interviews and has reiterated his desire to stay at Stamford Bridge, with Pochettino even highlighting his impact this season.
The 23-year-old has had heavy links to London rivals Tottenham in recent windows, and if the club aren't willing to tie him down with a new contract just yet, there'll no doubt be more interest in him come the summer transfer window.
Carney Chukwuemeka
Initially joining from Aston Villa on a six-year deal, 20-year-old Chukwuemeka could be another unfortunate victim of Chelsea's policy around net spend and the league's PSRs. Having made only seven appearances so far this season under Pochettino, things initially looked bright for the youngster after netting the equaliser against West Ham back in August.
However, he was subbed off with a knee injury in what would be an eventual 3-1 loss that day, which has hampered his involvement for the rest of the season. With the Blues acquiring 'upgrades' like Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez after his arrival for big bucks, the window for Chukwuemeka to make his impact felt seems to be getting narrower by the week.
Noni Madueke
Another investment for the future that could go to waste: Noni Madueke has been able to show what he's capable of in the snippet of minutes he's been handed by Pochettino this season. A cracking goal against Luton Town and another in the game before that against Crystal Palace have been his only two involvements in the league campaign, having started just four times this season.
However, his performances in the club's deep cup runs this year have again shown his capabilities, but with limited minutes, many wonder whether he's in Pochettino's plans for the future. If not, he could be another to leave this summer.
Raheem Sterling
Another star who has failed to truly find their feet at Stamford Bridge in recent seasons, Sterling has been somewhat 'embarrassed' by the arrival and subsequent immediate impact of Cole Palmer from Manchester City. The youngster has already beaten the England veteran's tally from last season, which was Chelsea's best record in that campaign, and looks well on his way to stretch that gap further.
Sterling is one of the most senior players in the dressing room and has a wealth of experience on his side, but inconsistency has killed any hope of momentum-building in a Chelsea shirt for him over the last few months. Blues fans will want to see far more of Sterling in his Man City form than the winger they've been seeing recently if he wants any hope of perpetually being on the chopping block.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
It's telling that Kepa's most memorable moments in a Chelsea shirt are blazing the losing penalty over the crossbar in the EFL Cup final against Liverpool, three years after refusing to be subbed off for Willy Caballero in another shootout loss against Jurgen Klopp's Reds.
Now, he's adamant he doesn't want to return to Stamford Bridge, and with the arrivals of Robert Sanchez, Djorde Petrovic and Gaga Slonina over the summer, it's unlikely the Blues will want him much longer either. A loan to Real Madrid hasn't worked out for him either, with the Spanish international having been made a backup goalkeeper by Carlo Ancelotti since December.
Ian Maatsen
The subject of a mid-January loan move to Borussia Dortmund, Ian Maatsen, hasn't shied away from showing the Blues just what they're missing without him. There was interest from Vincent Kompany's Burnley last summer to make his loan move there permanent, but nothing materialised.
He might've signed a new contract with the Blues just before leaving for the Bundesliga, but Maatsen didn't appear to be in the Blues' plans when he was there over the first half of the campaign, despite a strong preseason tour in the U.S.A. Whether he will be when he gets back is unclear.
Lewis Hall
The 19-year-old left-back has started just one match under Eddie Howe at Newcastle United since his loan move started in August, having played just 108 total league minutes behind the likes of Dan Burn and Matt Richie. Despite that, Howe has opened up about the youngster's progression at St James' Park over the last few months and hasn't ruled out a permanent move for Hall in the summer.
Hakim Ziyech
Arriving at Chelsea with a lot of promise, it never really worked out for Hakim Ziyech. The Moroccan winger joined from Ajax with a stellar record of goals and assists but never provided that for the Blues, and he continually fell out of favour and, in turn, further down the pecking order.
A loan move to Galatasaray has been refreshing for the star, and a permanent exit from Stamford Bridge may provide both sides with an amicable end to his stint with the club over the summer.
Romelu Lukaku
The Romelu Lukaku vs Chelsea saga has been far too ugly for the club to continue. While it's fully on the player and has nothing to do with the club, it'd be best to cut their losses as early as possible, whether that means loaning him out early in the window or finding him a new club as soon as they can.
David Datro Fofana
It was a tough start to life at Chelsea for Fofana, who arrived in the midst of the club's worst Premier League season ever. His failed loan spell at Union Berlin earlier this season won't have helped things, but a surprising start to life at Burnley has seen him notch three goals and an assist in just seven matches for Vincent Kompany's side.
Armando Broja
A long-term injury meant Broja had a lot of ground to make up when Pochettino arrived at the club, but the Argentinian constantly reminded the press about his upcoming involvement upon his return. However, a loan move to Fulham on deadline day in February looks to be giving him the minutes he needs to get fully fit.
That being said, there had been interest in him from other Premier League clubs across January, and that could be taken further if Chelsea decide to go after a new striker in the summer transfer window.