In an effort to reduce an over-sized roster, Chelsea appears to be in for a very busy summer of departures.
Mauricio Pochettino, a probable new manager, will have the chance to reorganise the Blues’ first team by selling a handful of the 32 players now on their books (transfermarkt) so that he can do so. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Christian Pulisic, and Hakim Ziyech are among the players who seem destined to be traded, and Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have also been linked to departures.
Many members of the squad are still bound by long-term contracts because they mostly joined under Todd Boehly’s ownership. As a result, as of right now, just three Chelsea departures are confirmed to be permanent.
Denis Zakaria, a midfielder, is the first person on the list and is without a doubt the most likely to be gone by August. Zakaria joined the team last summer on a season-long loan from Juventus, with the option to purchase.
Zakaria has only made 11 appearances across all competitions, though, as a result of the injury concerns that surrounded his transfer to Stamford Bridge. A further indication that his future lies elsewhere is the fact that he has only ever played under Frank Lampard.
Joao Felix is an additional loanee who will soon be going back to his native team. In a deal without a provision for it to become permanent, Felix left Atletico Madrid in January.
The international player from Portugal has made an impression during brief stints at Stamford Bridge, but the fact that he hasn’t started any of the last five games raises questions about his long-term prospects. This summer, Atletico Madrid may demand as much as £87 million for Felix, but it is a big price to pay for a player who hasn’t yet found a role.
Chelsea may be able to lure him back with another loan agreement, but with Christopher Nkunku already committed, a difficult choice must be made. N’Golo Kante is the only first team player with a contract at Chelsea, and his agreement expires this summer. However, he is by no means the least important player on the list.
Although Kante has had a difficult season with injuries, he has started six of the last eight games in all competitions and is still an important member of the team. Kante had earlier in the season appeared set to depart Chelsea this summer on a free agent, but Fabrizio Romano claims that he is still a part of the plan and that negotiations for a new contract are already underway.
But nothing has yet been signed, and the remaining time for all sides to reach an agreement is less than two months.