The sooner last season is forgotten, the better. No one needs reminding of just how disastrous the recently concluded campaign was in West London however, in case you’ve forgotten, here goes. The Blues went through no fewer than four managers last term, and none of them were able to get the best out of a squad that was overloaded with £300m worth of signings in January. As such, the two-time UEFA Champions League winners finished way down in 12th in the English top flight last term, racking up less than half the points of eventual champions Manchester City. And while Premier League odds sites have made Pep Guardiola’s treble winners the 1.72 favourites to retain their crown next term, Chelsea are way out as 16/1 outsiders.
But when that sheer amount of money is spent, lest we forget a similar amount spent last summer as well, it’s only natural to expect a huge overhaul in order to accommodate the new additions. When senior loan players return to Stamford Bridge at the end of the month, their first team will swell up to 40 senior players. But which of them needs offloading?
Strikers
Following the recent addition of RB Leipzig hitman Christopher Nkunku, Chelsea suddenly have one of the continent’s best strikers in their ranks. As such, the likes of Romelu Lukaku, whose £100m addition in the summer of 2021 looks to be one of the worst pieces of business in recent memory, have to go. Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng is another that can follow his big Belgian teammate out of the door, while João Félix is expected to return to Atletico Madrid.
The future of Kai Havertz is also up in the air. He has no end of potential suitors, with Arsenal and Real Madrid both said to be interested in acquiring his services. Despite scoring the goal that won Chelsea their second UEFA Champions League trophy, he has struggled to prove himself as the main man at Stamford Bridge, and his days may also be numbered.
Midfielders
In the centre of the park, Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante, and Mateo Kovačić are all expected to leave for Manchester United, the Saudi Pro League, and Manchester City respectively. Add to that Denis Zakaria who will be returning to Juventus, and Chelsea are suddenly looking slim in midfield. But that doesn’t mean that new manager Mauricio Pochettino should cling on to the deadwood.
Academy products Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have proven to not be up to the standard required to be regulars in the starting eleven of a top-four club. In the more attacking department, Hakim Ziyech should also be free to leave, despite showing his immense quality in Qatar six months ago. In fact, it’s been reported in recent days that he may well be a part of Europe’s Saudi Arabian exodus, and its thought that he has agreed to an £8m move to the Saudi Professional League, following the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, who left for the Arabian Gulf back in January. Christian Pulisic has also made his feelings clear about wanting to leave, and he too can be ushered out of the exit door.
Defenders
Chelsea have a plethora of options at centre half, one of which is Kalidou Koulibaly. The Senegalese international was brought to the club in a high-profile transfer last summer, but he has had trouble replacing Antonio Rüdiger. We believe he ought to be leaving and Inter Milan are thought to be interested in acquiring his services. Whether he gets another chance at the Bridge remains to be seen. It is unclear how much new manager Mauricio Pochettino will want to streamline his backline given the choices in defense, including Thiago Silva, Trevor Chalobah, and new acquisition Benoît Badiashile.
Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana have also been less than impressive since making their moves to West London last season from Brighton and Leicester respectively. Unlike the aforementioned Senegal captain, however, that pair is on the ‘right’ side of 30, and they may well be given one last chance next season.
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