Todd Boehly is helping Chelsea to clear out their squad this summer and the latest moves have shown a distinct change in approach.
Whereas previous iterations of Chelsea have failed to move on their underperforming stars, resulting in depreciating value, long-term wage commitments and bloated squad build-up, the new regime have been active in their sales process.
Although there was little choice but to shed the playing group available to Mauricio Pochettino, the speed in which the new recruitment directors of Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart have carried out this window's work is largely unprecedented.
Three weeks in and eight of last year's squad have been let go or sold with Jorginho beating the queue in January. What is even more remarkable is that some of the most likely players to leave are yet to be shipped out.
Callum Hudson-Odoi is set to depart, as is Hakim Ziyech. Romelu Lukaku will all but certainly be playing his football away from Stamford Bridge next season whilst Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will surely join him.
There is a challenge to recoup serious fees for this group of players, especially as those that have left so far have been either targetted by the new Saudi Pro League emerging market or transferred to rivals even for large fees. For Ziyech, Lukaku and Co, their market is less obvious and their sellability is lower.
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Christian Pulisic, however, falls firmly into the former category. He is now on the verge of joining AC Milan and will join Ruben Loftus-Cheek in moving to San Siro this summer after his move for £18million. Pulisic is also the next man on a growing list of players to make the journey to Italy.
Following Fikayo Tomori and Olivier Giroud, Pulisic is looking for a new challenge and will cut short his five-year contract at SW6 in order to complete a move expected to be around £20million. As Chelsea themselves plan for life after Pulisic, they may well be keen to not only cash in but also take advantage of a positive relationship between the sides.
As they eye moves this summer for a new goalkeeper it is hard to escape the lingering interest in Mike Maignan. football.london understands that such admiration does exist in the France goalkeeper but a transfer is not likely.
Maignan is one of the best players in his position in the world but also commands a fee in line with such stature and isn't seen as someone who will be wearing the gloves at Stamford Bridge next season. However, as the seasons go on and questions remain over Kepa Arrizabalaga's long-term future with the club, a fledgling partnership with Milan could help make a deal possible.
Elsewhere there is the outstanding prospect of Rafael Leao, too. He only signed a new contract at San Siro earlier this year but has been of serious interest to Chelsea in the past 18 months. His mammoth release clause makes an immediate exit unlikely but the recent boardroom reshuffle has thrown that up in the air.
Milan are more likely to be vigilant when it comes to selling their own players rather than signings Chelsea's, but the open lines of communication that have benefitted the 2021 Italian champions is something that the owners will once again be keen to take advantage of.
