CHELSEA COULD MOVE ON ANOTHER TWELVE PLAYERS AFTER RIPPING UP FLOP'S £100K-A-WEEK CONTRACT

Chelsea have already been among the Premier League's busier sides during the transfer window, but also have more work than most remaining.

The Blues have made six new signings for Enzo Maresca's arrival in the Stamford Bridge hotseat as the west London side continue rapid turnover under the ownership of BlueCo. New faces get to know each other once again on a pre-season tour of the United States, as Chelsea once again left a hefty group of players at home.

There are number the club will hope to sell, and whoo they also hoped to last summer. Already Malang Sarr has seen his contract cancelled to facilitate his move to RC Lens.

Sarr was signed on a £100,000-per-week five-year deal after arriving on a free transfer and was a member of Thomas Tuchel's squad who tasted Club World Cup success. The Frenchman was unable to find a move last year, and trained separately from the first team for the duration of the season. Sarr has foregone any compensation with both parties reluctant to allow a repeat of 2023/24.

Sarr was not the only player that Chelsea failed to secure a transfer for 12 months ago. Romelu Lukaku remained apart from Chelsea's squad as he angled for a move but only a loan to Roma was possible.

The Belgian striker will once again he hopeful of a transfer with Napoli candidates to land his signature. That would see a reunion with ex-Chelsea and Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte.

Likewise, Kepa Arrizabalga departed on the eve of last year's Premier League season on loan to Real Madrid. With less than 12 months on his contract in west London, a departure appears certain in the coming weeks if it can be facilitated.

Chelsea have also made their stance clear on Trevoh Chalobah. The defender was left out Maresca's squad that travelled to the US with the club hopeful of realising a pure profit sale in moving the academy product on.

Chalobah was one of the Blues' more impressive players as they produced good form at the end of last season but has been deemed surplus to requirements. The 25-year-old will not be the only homegrown player the club look to move on.

Conor Gallagher has less than 12 months left on his current deal and was available for sale last summer, despite being liked by Mauricio Pochettino. The England international has yet to join up with Chelsea's squad after his Euro 2024 exploits, but will be available again amid interest from Atletico Madrid.

Djordge Petrovic has emerged has a surprise candidate for sale too. The Serbian is yet to join up with his teammates due to injury after establishing himself as Pochettino's No.1 last term.

The Blues look set to add Villarreal goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen to their ranks and despite only adding Petrovic to the team less than a year ago, the 24-year-old is probably the more sellable asset in contrast to Robert Sanchez.

Even some players who have made the trip to California will see their future scrutinised. Ben Chilwell has been training with the club's wingers, a position he did feature in last term, rather than in his more usual full-back position.

Maresca has a preference for his full-backs to be able to invert, a positin more suited to Marc Cucurella and new signing Renato Veiga. That could leave Chilwell as available should the correct bid arrive.

Armando Broja split his time between Chelsea and Fulham last term and has been linked with moves away over the last two summers. The Blues remain short of forwards, particularly with Nicolas Jackson currently out injured, and Broja is with the first team group.

The Albania international may be required to impress Maresca to not see his future lie elsewhere. Striker David Datro Fofana will not have that opportunity after being left at home.

The Ivory Coast national has been at the club for 18 months and spent last season on loan at Union Berlin and Burnley. Real Betis have been linked to the 21-year-old who the club it seems would be happy to move on this summer.

Cesare Casadei was also not afforded the opportunity to travel to the States despite working with Maresca at Leicester City last season. The 21-year-old Italian is said to be on Lazio's radar.

Alfie Gilchrist also missed out on Maresca's touring party after travelling across the Atlantic with Pochettino last term. The young defender provided solid support across last season but is set to move on loan this term after an impressive 12 months.

Andrey Santos is also expected to head back out on loan. The Brazilian is set to return to Strasbourg to continue his progress following a summer spent with Maresca, as Chelsea await the likes of Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo to reintegrate fully. Likewise, Lesley Ugochukwu has been touted to make a loan.

Chelsea will also look to facilitate loan moves for a whole host of their young players. The likes of Harvey Vale and Leo Castledine will likely depart temporarily, while the likes of Bashir Humphreys and Alex Matos could also be looking for loans.

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2024-07-26T22:58:36Z dg43tfdfdgfd