American owner Todd Boehly has taken substantial steps to effect change at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea had their poorest season since the Premier League’s inception.
Last season, the Blues had three different managers, including Thomas Tuchel (now at Bayern Munich), Graham Potter, and Frank Lampard, the club’s legendary interim manager. Mauricio Pochettino will now take charge and try to bring stability back to a team that last won the Champions League in 2021. Pochettino previously managed London rivals Tottenham to a Champions League final.
A startling number of players have already left the club this summer, including some key players who were instrumental at Stamford Bridge in recent seasons. Edouard Mendy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mateo Kovacic, Kalidou Koulibaly, N’Golo Kante, Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, and Christian Pulisic are among those who have left.
These departures signal the start of a new era at Chelsea and might be the seismic shift that is necessary for the team to reclaim its position in Europe.
The following are the most recent transfer rumors involving the Blues:
Moises Caicedo
Chelsea will look to replace Kovacic, Kante, and Mount in the central midfield position. Caicedo of Brighton is one such player who the Blues would be interested in. The Ecuadorian was a vital part of Brighton’s sixth-place finish, but the league’s top team has shown a lot of interest in him.
Brighton is standing by its value of £100 million and has rejected Chelsea’s most recent offer of £80 million. According to The Guardian, Levi Colwill, 21, is prepared to sign a six-year contract to remain at the London club. It is believed that Brighton would have been open to a deal that also included Colwill returning permanently to the Amex after his successful loan spell there last year.
Michael Olise
Chelsea appears to be shifting its attention to incoming players as they attempt to create a team that can improve on last season’s terrible performance after a summer of outgoings for the West London club so far. Michael Olise of Crystal Palace is one player who is apparently being considered, according to RMC Sport, who claims that the Blues have submitted a proposal for the French winger.
According to reports, Olise’s contract, which runs through 2026, has a £35 million release clause. Chelsea are reportedly willing to pay more than the clause in order to obtain better conditions for the 21-year-old. Arsenal, Manchester City, and PSG are rumored to be interested in the playmaker, joining Chelsea in their pursuit of him.
Romelu Lukaku
The Belgian has endured a torrid spell at the club since returning in 2021 and now looks set to leave the club for the second time this summer. The 30-year-old is unlikely to return to Inter, where he spent last season on loan, but could be staying in the Serie A with Fabrizio Romano reporting that Juventus are interested in the striker and a swap deal with Dusan Vlahovic. Chelsea turned down a similar deal in July but is said to be re-considering the deal now.
Mohammed Kudus
Kudus, who plays for Ajax, is able to play both on the right flank and in a more aggressive center midfield position, and he could be the newest player to leave the Dutch team as they continue their cost-cutting measures after failing to make the Champions League.
Arsenal has expressed interest in the Ghanaian international, who might cost up to £40 million, according to The Daily Mail. Despite this, Chelsea is reportedly also interested in the player. According to David Ornstein, Chelsea has spoken to the Dutch team about a possible transfer for the 22-year-old.
Conor Gallagher
The Chelsea midfielder has played on the team’s preseason tour of America, but the West London club is apparently offering him to teams as it continues its purge following a terribly poor campaign in 2017.
Although Gallagher has been a Chelsea player since he was six years old, his current contract only has two years left. Tottenham is reportedly interested, but they will have to contend with West Ham, who has made an approach for the Englishman in an effort to fill the gap created by Declan Rice’s historic transfer to Arsenal. According to Sky Sports, Chelsea rejected the Hammers’ original offer of £40 million because they wanted £50 million for their 23-year-old midfielder.
Trevor Chalobah
Due to Wesley Fofana’s second long-term knee injury, Trevor Chalobah was expected to remain at Stamford Bridge to cover the center of the defense. The Englishman now appears to have his sights set on departing this window to assure playing time in the upcoming season, though, with the impending arrival of Axel Disasi. According to The Evening Standard, Inter is one of the clubs with a long-standing interest in the center-back, and the Blues would accept a price of £45 million for the 25-year-old.