Chelsea have built up a list of five players they are willing to sell during the summer transfer window – four of whom have failed to convince the club otherwise after already being available in January.
That’s according to Football Insider, who named the five players up for sale shortly before Chelsea’s match against Southampton, which ended as a 1-0 defeat for Graham Potter’s struggling side after a James Ward-Prowse free kick.
It has been a turbulent season for Chelsea despite their big spending during the summer and January transfer windows. Head coach Potter has failed to get the club on track since replacing Thomas Tuchel.
Therefore, further changes should be made at Stamford Bridge at the end of this season. While Chelsea could flex their financial muscles again, realistically they will have to offload some players as well.
With that in mind, there have been plenty of reports recently about who could be at risk.
Now, Football Insider has firmed up five players Chelsea are listening to offers for. According to the online outlet, they are ready to sell Mason Mount, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hakim Ziyech, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Conor Gallagher.
Mount was a starter in the loss to Southampton, and will be made available if he does not renew his contract, which is currently in its last 18 months.
Given the uncertainty about his future, Mount has become a target for other Premier League clubs, like Liverpool. And it seems Chelsea are coming to terms with the prospect of selling their academy graduate.
Chelsea already listening to offers for several players
The other four, according to the report, could already have left in January if an offer was right, and will remain on the market at the next opportunity.
In the winter, Ziyech’s proposed loan move to Paris Saint-Germain collapsed due to administrative errors, for example. Now, he is having to wait until the summer to find a solution.
Then, earlier this month, Aubameyang became a target for MLS side LAFC, but didn’t feel ready to make such a move. Still, he might have to consider his future, since he was specifically signed for Tuchel, not Potter. Besides, his contract will be up at the end of next season.
Loftus-Cheek and Gallagher, meanwhile, have fallen down the pecking order after the record-breaking January arrival of Enzo Fernandez. Loftus-Cheek is in the same contractual situation as Mount, while Gallagher – who was the subject of interest from Everton last month – is tied to a deal until 2025.
Gallagher was the only other member of the quintet to play any part against Southampton, coming on as a substitute.
Only time will tell where each of these players end up, but it seems they are being left behind by Chelsea.
Changes are certainly needed, but the Blues will be hoping they are making the right choices in terms of how to adjust their squad.
