Graham Potter puts NINE Chelsea stars up for sale, including Todd Boehly signing
Chelsea have put nine members of Graham Potter’s first-team squad up for sale ahead of the summer transfer window, with the club hoping to recoup some cash following a Ł600million splurge.
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The Blues spent Ł320m in January, following a Ł280m outlay last summer. Though the club have smartly given long-term deals to players to spread out the costs, they are wary of complying with new UEFA Financial Fair Play rules.
Potter is similarly keen to trim his squad, aware that he will have too many players to keep happy at Stamford Bridge.
Christian Pulisic, a Ł56m signing from Dortmund in 2018, is set to leave as he’ll have just 12 months remaining on his contract this summer. Manchester United and Newcastle showed interest in signing him on loan in January.
Hakim Ziyech saw a dream move to Paris Saint-Germain collapse because of a paperwork issue and he wants to make a permanent exit at the end of the campaign.
Kalidou Kouliably, a Ł33m signing from Napoli just seven months ago, is deemed surplus to requirements by Potter following the arrival of Benoit Badiashile and the Blues will listen to offers.
Romelu Lukaku is expected to depart on far reduced terms following his Ł97m move to the club in 2021, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could complete a loan move to Major League Soccer.
According to ESPN, the Blues will also listen to offers for Mateo Kovacic and Callum Hudson-Odoi, while N’Golo Kante is yet to agree a new deal and is out of contract at the end of the season.
The most controversial departure could be Mason Mount. The England international emerged from Chelsea’s academy and has been a bright spark in an otherwise forgettable campaign so far.
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Barcelona could be forced to sell some of their biggest names in the summer, as they have to trim over €200 million from their wages.
No one needs an introduction to Barcelona’s financial problems, that have haunted them for a number of years and led to the departure of Lionel Messi.
More recently their finances caused a delay in being able to register Gavi as a senior player, leaving his release clause at a lowly €50 million and forcing him to wear a much higher squad number.
They also struggled to land a transfer deadline day deal because they couldn’t afford to add an obligation to buy a player on the end of a loan deal.
They did also miss out on another move at the end of the window, but that was due to a computer issue meaning the paperwork went in 18 seconds too late.
Barca’s problems aren’t expected to get any better any time soon, especially after missing out on the latter stages of the Champions League in the past two years.
And, according to Mundo Deportivo, they will be forced to reduce their wage bill by over €200 million in the summer, to be in line with La Liga regulations.
That will likely mean selling some of their big earners, whilst Sergio Busquets could also leave when his contract expires at the end of the campaign.
The report also mentions Sergi Roberto as a player who could leave, with his contract expiring, but Fabrizio Romano reports he is set to sign a new deal at the Nou Camp.
Instead the news could alert Premier League clubs interested in bringing Franck Kessie in, after the midfielder moved to Xavi’s side from AC Milan just last summer.
The Ivorian attracted interest from all over but chose to move to Barca, however he was linked with a move away in January, with Inter Milan interested in a swap deal.
Kessie has only started two La Liga games so far this season and so could be an ideal candidate to be sold, although he’s not the only one.
Manchester United were desperate to sign Frenkie de Jong last year and Erik ten Hag is unlikely to be put off by his fellow Dutchman’s refusal to move to Old Trafford at that point.
Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati are also mentioned as players who could depart, and the latter in particular would be of interest to many, including Arsenal.
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