Chelsea have already made more moves this summer than most Premier League teams – both incoming and outgoing.
But there’s a vast amount more to be done, and one only has to read Simon Phillips’ summary of the situation in the squad right now to see how many changes could yet be coming to Enzo Maresca’s squad before the end of preseason.
There are a slew of players either returning from loan, graduating from the academy or just being pushed out of the squad by new signings who will need a new home this summer. We will certainly have to take a loss (or at least a bad deal) on a few of them, but the sum total should be a vast amount of spending money for us.
A lot of work to get through
Phillips rattles through them all in quick succession: Armando Broja, Romelu Lukaku and Kepa are all former first team players will be “moved” out, and all 3 look likely to be sold, with the latter two basically bundled off for free to get their wages off the books.
Then there’s Trevoh Chalobah and Conor Gallagher – both “likely to be sold” but Gallagher with the chance to pen a new contract, and Chalobah with the potential to refuse moves and stick around on his existing deal.
Alfie Gilchrist and Deivid Washington are both going to be loaned out. Andrey Santos will get a chance in preseason but may then push for a loan. There’s “real interest” in Carney Chukwuemeka.
Cesare Casadei is “up for sale” with a potential loan, and interestingly Lesley Ugochukwu “could be sold if a good offer comes in.”
That would be mad – he was bought for £25m, barely played, got injured and then is going to be sold before he’s had a chance to fulfil his potential?
Ugechukwu, casadei, chalobah both to be sold