A year ago
The new Chelsea additions "regret signing long-term contracts" with the Premier League powerhouses.
Reports suggest that some members of the Chelsea squad who signed long-term contracts with the club are regretting their decisions. The players in the first XI are worried about the future of the team, especially after losing five games in a row and being eliminated from the Champions League. Additionally, the squad is concerned about their opportunities for first-team playtime next season due to Chelsea's bloated squad of over 30 players, many of whom are not playing in matches. Some squad members reportedly expressed their interest in leaving the club this summer, but most of them have signed long-term contracts with Chelsea, making it difficult for them to leave. The club spent £600 million on new signings in the past two transfer windows, according to The Athletic.
SIGNINGS MADE UNDER TODD BOEHLY
Enzo Fernandez - £107m
Mykhailo Mudryk - £88.5m
Wesley Fofana - £75m
Marc Cucurella - £60m
Raheem Sterling - £47.5m
Benoit Badiashile - £35m
Kalidou Koulibaly - £33m
Noni Madueke - £29m
Malo Gusto - £26m
Carney Chukwuemeka - £20m
Andrey Santos - £18m
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - £10.3m
Gabriel Slonina - £9m
David Datro Fofana - £8m
Denis Zakaria - loan
Joao Felix - £9.7m loan
According to a source close to Chelsea's first-team squad, several players were promised key roles in the club's "exciting new project" during contract negotiations but have barely featured this season. This has caused frustration among the players and an unwanted atmosphere in the squad. Chelsea's failure to qualify for the Champions League has added to the issue, as the club's owners have implemented a bonus structure linked to Champions League qualification, which could see players' wages fluctuate depending on whether they play in the competition. This move away from the ownership era of Roman Abramovich has reportedly caused a rift in the squad, with some players having their earning power reduced by at least 30%, while others, such as Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly, who signed for the club under the former ownership, will not be affected. The situation has made it challenging for the new manager to convince an unhappy group of players about the direction of the club under the current ownership.
Recent reports suggest that Mauricio Pochettino has reached a verbal agreement to become Chelsea's next manager, and talks with the club's hierarchy have reportedly progressed further. The former Tottenham boss has been out of work since being sacked by Paris Saint-Germain last season, and the deal with Chelsea could be completed within days. Frank Lampard is expected to remain in his role as interim manager until the end of the current campaign, with Pochettino set to start work over the summer
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