Chelsea plan to sanction another £100m star exit this summer to raise funds
Chelsea look set to sanction another huge fire sale this summer in an attempt to raise funds and balance their financial books. Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic headed up a lengthy list of players to depart Stamford Bridge last summer which saw well over £200million raised.
Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and N’Golo Kante were among those who moved to Saudi Arabia with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic both signing for AC Milan. None of the players sold had endured successful seasons at Chelsea prior to their departures and that has mostly continued.
Mount has been plagued by injuries while at Manchester United but scored his first goal for the club in the 1-1 draw against Brentford on Saturday. Kovacic has struggled to break into the Manchester City starting XI, although it must be said Havertz has superbly turned around his first campaign at Arsenal.
Loftus-Cheek and Pulisic have also been in great form recently with the former in particular becoming a crucial player for Milan. In Saturday’s win over Fiorentina, Loftus-Cheek netted his tenth goal of the season in all competitions from midfield, while Pulisic has contributed to 20 goals.
Considering Loftus-Cheek’s impact, selling him for just £15million, despite all of those funds acquired coming as pure profit given he is a homegrown player, Milan have picked up quite the bargain. Even more marquee transfers being made has left Chelsea in a position where they need to sell more players.
Conor Gallagher has been frequently suggested as the player who will be sacrificed, despite his superb season, as his sale would also count as pure profit. With it already known the Blues are hoping to sell Gallagher, it has now been claimed another England international could be set to leave.
According to The Times’ Duncan Castle, Chelsea are prepared to sell club captain Reece James in order to raise significant funds. Injuries have resulted in James making just nine appearances in this campaign with it currently unclear if the 24-year-old will play again over the next few months.
The hope is that Chelsea will be able to acquire £100million by selling the academy duo which will help them avoid breaking financial rules. Considering how Loftus-Cheek has done since leaving Chelsea, Gallagher and James both succeeding if they also depart is very likely and it is surely a risk the Blues don’t want to take, regardless of the financial benefits.
