The summer transfer window will spark the start of a new era for Chelsea Football Club as Roman Abramovich’s sale of the Blues to LA Dodgers owner Todd Boehly in the coming weeks.
Boehly recently had his bid accepted to purchase Chelsea from Russian Abramovich who has owned the club for 19 years, but placed the Blues up for sale shortly after Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK Government earlier this year.
Of the current playing squad, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen have already confirmed that they will be leaving at the end of the season, with both players not signing contract extensions at Stamford Bridge.
But how many other departures will there before the end of the summer transfer window, with many players’ futures up in the air. Here is a look at 18 players whose futures at Stamford Bridge need to be decided by manager Thomas Tuchel and director Marina Granovskaia in the coming weeks and months.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga arrived at Chelsea in 2018 for a then club record fee of £71.6million but has played just 11 Premier League appearances in the last two seasons, losing his place to Senegalese stopper Edouard Mendy. He still has three years left on his contract, but with Tuchel starting to pick Mendy over Kepa in cup matches, the Blues may look to cash in on the Spaniard and invest elsewhere in a new second-choice stopper.
Cesar Azpilicueta
Captain Cesar Azpilicueta has won it all at Chelsea, but could be into his final week of playing for the Blues, with uncertainty surrounding his future. The 32-year-old, who is the only player in Chelsea history to win every trophy possible for the club, has been linked with Barcelona, with the defender having just one year left on his contract after a clause was triggered earlier this year.
Ethan Ampadu
Defender Ethan Ampadu has spent the season out on loan in Serie A with Venezia, but failed to help them avoid relegation out of Italy’s top-flight. Last season, he was also relegated from the Premier League on loan at Sheffield United. Ampadu, who can play at centre-back and central midfield, may have vesatility on his side, but has not played for Chelsea in any of the last three seasons, suggesting an exit may be likely.
Jake Clarke-Salter
Centre-back Jake Clarke-Salter has spent the last three seasons out on loan in the Championship, with Coventry City and previously Birmingham City. His contract expires at Stamford Bridge this season, and reports in March suggested Coventry had offered the 24-year-old a long-term deal, which may lead to a permanent switch to the West Midlands.
Malang Sarr
French centre-back Malang Sarr has played 20 times this season for the Blues in all competitions, but just seven of those outings have been in the Premier League. Sometimes used at wing-back, Sarr is low on the pecking order, but with Rudiger and Christensen going and perhaps even more to follow, Sarr may get the chance to earn more minutes next term.
Matt Miazga
American defender Matt Miazga has been away from Chelsea on loan for the last six seasons across spells with Vitesse Arnhem, Nantes, Reading, Anderlecht and Alaves. His contract expires next year, so another loan may be possible, or Chelsea may want to cash in. A future in the Blues’ first-team seems highly unlikely for the 26-year-old defender.
Baba Rahman
Left-back Baba Rahman is one of two Chelsea players out on loan in the Championship with Reading alongside former Leicester City and England midfielder Danny Drinkwater. With six loan exits in as many years, the Ghanain international’s contract expires this summer and a new deal would be incredibly unlikely.
Juan Castillo
Dutch wing-back Juan Castillo has left the Blues on loan six times despite being just 22 years of age, with loans at both Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic struggling to flourish this term. His contract also runs out this summer and considering his struggles for football in the EFL this term, his long-term future is likely to be elsewhere.
Marcos Alonso
Spanish defender Marcos Alonso has been in good recent form in front of goal, scoring the equaliser in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Leicester City. However, the Spaniard has been heavily linked with a move back to Spain to join Barcelona, with Alonso second choice behind Ben Chilwell, who has missed the last six months through injury.
Emerson
Brazilian wing-back Emerson has played just three Premier League matches in the last two seasons and has spent this season on loan at Lyon in Ligue 1. Chelsea did attempt to bring him back in January as cover for the injured Chilwell, but could not sort a deal out. However, should Alonso go, Emerson may be an option to look at to provide competition for Chilwell next term.
Ti emoue Bakayoko
French midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko re-joined AC Milan at the start of this season on loan after stints with them, Monaco and Napoli in the previous three seasons. He has played just 14 league games for this year’s current Serie A leaders and while the deal did include an option to buy permanently, his lack of football may suggest a move elsewhere. A future at Chelsea however remains unlikely.
Danny Drinkwater
Former Premier League title winner Drinkwater, like Bakayoko, can be placed in a category of failed Antonio Conte signings. Poor loan spells at Burnley, Aston Villa and Kasimpasa saw Drinkwater’s career spiral, but he has been a regular for Reading in their quest to avoid relegation. His deal however expires this summer and it seems best for all if Drinkwater’s future is a fresh start elsewhere.
Conor Gallagher
Of those away from Chelsea on loan this season, Connor Gallager has been the one to standout. The midfielder, who has been one of Crystal Palace ’s best players this term, helped the Eagles reach the FA Cup semi-finals and he has also broken into the England squad. Tuchel has spoken highly of him and has said that if he impresses next season, he could earn a place in his squad.
Billy Gilmour
Scottish midfielder Billy Gilmour went to Norwich City on loan last summer for a first taste of regular senior football. Only 20, he still has plenty of room to grow and develop, but his loan spell at Norwich had spells in and out of the team and he failed to help Dean Smith’s side avoid relegation.
Saul Niguez
The Spanish midfielder is on loan at Chelsea from Atletico Madrid and while the deal did include an option to make the move permanent, his lack of game time makes a long-term switch highly unlikely. He has played just nine league matches this term, including run outs as a left wing-back due to the Blues’ shortages there, but in midfield, he is way down the pecking order.
Ross Barkley
Former Everton midfielder Ross Barkley has spent four years at Chelsea and 57 league appearances, almost half of which came under his first full season under Maurizio Sarri. The likes of N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are all above him in the current pecking order, while Gallagher has more chance of a long-term future at Stamford Bridge. His current contract only has a year left on it.
Kenedy
Brazilian winger Kenedy has been at Chelsea for seven years but has played just 15 times in the league, spending the first half of this season on loan at Flamengo. He returned to the Blues’ squad midway through the season to add cover, but both of his appearances since returning have come in the FA Cup.
Armando Broja
Striker Armando Broja has spent the season out on loan at Premier League rivals Southampton. The Albanian forward started the campaign well and has scored nine goals in 38 matches in all competitions, but he has failed to score in any of his last 13 Premier League appearances. Like Gallagher, he is set for a first-team chance next term.
Michy Batshuayi
Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi has had his best scoring season since joining Chelsea in 2016, netting 14 goals in 32 league games out on loan with Besiktas in Turkey. Romelu Lukaku, Kai Havertz and Timo Werner are all above the Belgian in the striker pecking order, with his contract expiring at Stamford Bridge next summer.
