Mauricio Pochettino, the newly appointed manager of an oversized Chelsea team, is prepared to make cuts in the upcoming summer market. The club is hoping that well over 10 players would go to help Pochettino, who is expected in England this week to prepare for his new position, handle the issue more calmly.
The former Spurs boss signed an initial two-year contract with Chelsea, and he officially begins his work on July 1. The likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, Edouard Mendy, and Callum Hudson-Odoi are anticipated to be ,oved on, be it for cut-prices.
Chelsea players who will bid farewell to Stamford Bridge in coming weeks
Pochettino’s overcrowded roster is made up of 33 players and more than 20 loaned players. The Daily Mail reports that up to 7 players will definitely depart in the summer, since the Argentine is prepared to tackle the rebuilding process with ruthlessness.
Since Roman Abramovich was replaced by Todd Boehly’s group a year ago, Chelsea have spent £600 million on new players. However, due to the failure of their venture, the emphasis has now shifted from recruiting to selling undesired players.
Joao Felix and Denis Zakaria (loan signings)
First off, after their loan stints at the club, Chelsea are willing to let Joao Felix and Denis Zakaria to return to their parent clubs. Since moving from Atletico Madrid in January, Felix has made an impression in spots, but Pochettino is not keen in making the change permanent.
Atletico president Enrique Cerezo confirmed on Tuesday:
“We’ve known for less than 24 hours. The Chelsea manager does not count on him. He will come back when his loan ends and we will see what happens. We do not have anything planned but he is an Atletico Madrid player.”
Mason Mount
Perhaps the most high-profile departure for Chelsea. At the conclusion of the current season, Mount, 24, will have only one year left on his current contract and is presently embroiled in a contract standoff with the Blues. In recent weeks, the English midfielder has been linked to teams like Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, who are reportedly keeping an eye on Mount’s status in preparation for the forthcoming transfer window.
And it appeared Mount confirmed his departure after an emotional lap of honor post Chelsea’s final game of the season against Newcastle. The midfielder was again spotted spending time at an empty Stamford Bridge a while later, all but confirming his exit.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang was acquired by Chelsea from Barcelona in September last year for almost £10 million, although neither party has benefited from the move. The striker has had trouble performing at his peak level for the London club, and he has slipped down the pecking order.
He was ultimately left off of Chelsea’s Champions League roster as well, and the player is anxious to leave Stamford Bridge. It’s unclear whether Barcelona will accept his transfer, even though a return there may be perfect for all parties.
The veteran striker may prove to be a good short-term alternative for Barcelona as they look to improve the quality and depth of their attack.
Hakim Ziyech
After Chelsea made mistakes with the required documentation, Hakim Ziyech’s loan transfer to Paris Saint-Germain fell through on the deadline day of the winter market. The Moroccan international was pleased to leave Stamford Bridge in January, and the situation has still not changed as he will look for a new club in the summer.
Ziyech is being sought after by a number of teams after he assisted Morocco in reaching the 2017 World Cup semifinals. Ziyech had interest from a number of Premier League teams, including Newcastle, as well as AC Milan, Roma, RB Leipzig, and others, but PSG reportedly remains his top option.
Christian Pulisic
With only 30 appearances across all leagues, often as a substitute, and only one goal, Pulisic has had a terrible season in west London. This situation is unlikely to improve next season if he stays at the club due to the overcrowded striker ranks at Chelsea.
The Blues’ intention to sell Pulisic is unaffected by Mauricio Pochettino’s recent appointment as head coach, therefore Pulisic is poised to leave Stamford Bridge this summer. ESPN reports that Juventus are presently in the lead to sign the former Dortmund player.
Chelsea are reportedly willing to accept as low as £20 million in exchange for Pulisic, and the Blues have approached Manchester United, Newcastle, Napoli, AC Milan, and Galatasaray about potential trade partners.
Edouard Mendy
In favour of Kepa Arrizabalaga, the 31-year-old Mendy, who joined Chelsea in 2020 and was a key component of the team’s Champions League victory in his first season, was benched for the second-half of the season. Pochettino is also said to be ready to let Mendy depart in order to bring in a new goalkeeper.
Chelsea is interested in Inter’s Andre Onana and would be willing to sell Mendy to the Serie A club in an effort to reduce his asking price. Brighton’s Robert Sanchez and Brentford’s David Raya are also being considered because they both have extensive Premier League experience. Diogo Costa, a 23-year-old custodian for Porto, is also well-liked.
Callum Hudson-Odoi
Callum Hudson-Odoi has struggled at his loan spell with Bayer Leverkusen and after initially shining bright for Chelsea coming through their academy, the winger is approaching end of the road at Stamford Bridge. With the Bundesliga team, Hudson-Odoi found it difficult to contribute, and after 21 games, he just has one goal and one assist to show for it.
The winger’s future is uncertain, according to Sky Sports Germany, since his loan deal has expired and there is little possibility that he will be able to join Pochettino’s overcrowded Chelsea team upon his return. After the Blues’ recent spending binge, wherein they brought in wingers Mykhaylo Mudryk and noni Madueke, it seems unlikely that Hudson-Odoi will succeed at Stamford Bridge.