Chelsea in crisis with TEN players set to leave including pair signed only last summer
With reports that as many as 10 players are pondering their futures, Chelsea's summer plans have been completely derailed.
Despite spending almost £600 million on transfers, The Blues had a terrible debut season under the club's new owners. With the well-assembled team, Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter have both failed, and interim manager Frank Lampard has lost four straight games to begin his tenure.
There will be significant changes as a result of Chelsea's mediocre Premier League standing and minimal to none prospect of playing in Europe next season. Todd Boehly is still looking for a new long-term position in the dugout, and Mauricio Pochettino is thought to be in the lead.
And if the former Tottenham manager accepts the position, he will take over a player group that is undergoing a significant amount of change. The Evening Standard reports that as teams adjust to the financial cost of a season without the Champions League, there is an agreement that at least some players will need to be let go.
According to the article, a sizable portion of the dressing room has already spoken with their representatives about probable summer departures. Mason Mount is one player that Chelsea really wants to keep, but because negotiations for a new contract have stalled, Premier League opponents are lining up to sign him.
By the time the transfer window closes, the England international will only have one year left on his current contract, and chances of his staying are getting slimmer.
Mason Mount, a midfielder for Chelsea, has been connected to a transfer to Arsenal (Getty Images).)
The Blues intend to play tough and will demand almost £70m for the academy graduate despite his precarious circumstances. Levi Colwill, who was loaned to Brighton but has many fans at his original club, has a similar tale.
After that, there are numerous stars mulling over their next move, including Kalidou Koulibaly and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The two were only signed last summer, but Koulibaly has struggled in his first season at Stamford Bridge, while Aubameyang has struggled to even make it on the pitch.
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