There are over seven weeks until the 2023 summer transfer window officially opens.
If you were to take a look on social media, however, you would be instantly forgiven for thinking the window was already open. Football supporters tend to be fascinated by what their favourite club does in the transfer window in terms of signings and departures.
For Chelsea, the upcoming transfer window is likely to be dominated by those players leaving the club. While there are still likely to be new recruitments at Stamford Bridge, it's well known now that the club's board are planning a mass exodus of players to give their new head coach a fresh start in west London.
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That man is likely to be Mauricio Pochettino, with the Argentine and Chelsea still in constant talks over the vacant head coach role left by Graham Potter at Stamford Bridge. The exit from the west London club will be busy this summer, much busier than the entrance, with the board trying to get some money back from what has been an extortionate period for them in terms of incomings with almost £600million being spent in the past two transfer windows.
Who is probably leaving?
At the time of writing, football.london would put five Chelsea players in the 'likely to leave' category this summer. Hakim Ziyech is definitely one of them. The Morocco international came so close to departing on loan to Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window and was left disappointed after a paperwork mishap.
Ziyech, though, wants to leave Chelsea in the summer and the club would be open to selling the former Ajax winger. Chelsea would rather sell the 30-year-old but any interested parties may be reluctant to pay good money for him given his lack of football this season and his wage demands could prove an issue. The Blues may be forced to compromise and send him out on loan, like what almost happened in January.
Another man likely to leave is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Barcelona are said to be interested in re-signing the 33-year-old striker who left them last summer. Things haven't worked out for Aubameyang at Chelsea for one reason or another and with just over 12 months left on his short-term contract, the club are likely to offload the centre-forward in the summer.
Christian Pulisic could also call time on his Chelsea career when the summer transfer window opens. The 24-year-old sees his contract at Stamford Bridge expire in just over 12 months' time and as of yet, there are no indications or hints that he will extend his stay in the capital.
Pulisic has made just 21 appearances in the Premier League this season, with only eight of them being starts. The American is eager to get more first-team football and has become increasingly frustrated with his role with Chelsea.
It could also be the end for Cesar Azpilicueta and his over-decade-long career at Stamford Bridge. The Spaniard, like Pulisic, has just over a year remaining on his deal with the Blues and now he is 33, his best days may well be over. A return to Spain could be on the cards for the club captain.
Meanwhile, Edouard Mendy has seen his place in the first-team disappear this season after some mistakes at the start of the campaign. Chelsea are actively looking for a new goalkeeper this summer so the Senegal international could be moved on to make space.
Who might be leaving?
This is a more difficult question and one that requires a longer and much more in-depth answer. Chelsea have so many players in their squad whose future at the club is uncertain.
We'll start with Kalidou Koulibaly. The Senegal defender only arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer, with huge expectations after a successful eight-year spell at Napoli. However, less than 12 months on, there are serious questions being asked over his future at Chelsea, with the defender being linked with a return to Italy.
Koulibaly hasn't enjoyed the best of starts to life in England but has shown at times why he has been so highly regarded for the best part of a decade. The 31-year-old still has a contract with Chelsea for another three years but given he is in his early-30s, the Blues may consider selling if they believe he hasn't got a future at the club.
Another one with an uncertain future is fellow central defender Trevoh Chalobah who has been a bit-part player at Chelsea this season. Chalobah loves the club and in an ideal situation he wouldn't want to leave but at 23-years-old, he is at a crucial point in his career and given the immense competition in his position at the club, looking elsewhere this summer may be what's best for him. There has been plenty of interest in previous windows from here in England as well as abroad so the Cobham graduate would not be short of suitors at all.
Marc Cucurella is in a similar boat to the aforementioned Koulibaly. The Spaniard joined last summer with big expectations and a hefty price-tag but has failed to impress during his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge. It's up to Chelsea now whether they stick with Cucurella for another season and risk seeing his value drop even more or just admit they made a mistake less than 12 months ago and try to get as much of their money back as possible.
Possible loan exits from Stamford Bridge could be on the cards for Lewis Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka. Hall has had somewhat of a breakthrough season into the Chelsea senior squad. The 18-year-old has played seven times for the Blues in all competitions, mostly at left-back or left wing-back.
His natural position is in the centre of midfield so any loan move with assurances from the other club of him playing more in the middle is likely to be beneficial to both Chelsea and Hall. Meanwhile, as football.london reported last week, Chelsea are considering sending Chukwuemeka out on loan next season.
The 19-year-old midfielder signed from Aston Villa for around £20million last summer but his first-team game-time has been restricted this season despite impressing in flashes. A loan move next season could be beneficial as he enters a key stage in his development.
Three other central midfielders in Mateo Kovacic, Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek also face uncertain futures in west London. Kovacic has just over 12 months left on his contract with the club and there is interest from both Manchester City and Bayern Munich in his signature as they look to take advantage of his situation.
We all know just how talented the Croatia international is but he has struggled with fitness issues this season and that may explain his inconsistency levels on the pitch. At the time of writing, Chelsea are yet to open official talks with the 29-year-old over extending his stay at Stamford Bridge.
Gallagher, meanwhile, is a target for Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp looks to bolster his midfield options this summer. Prior to Frank Lampard coming in on an interim basis, Gallagher was used from the bench more often than not but in recent weeks he has emerged as a key member of the first-team.
His goal at Bournemouth at the weekend was his second in five games – more than any other Chelsea player in that time. The England international is a boyhood Chelsea supporter and would ideally love to stay and fight for his place under the new manager.
It's a similar situation with Loftus-Cheek who is satisfied with his role within the squad at the minute. However, AC Milan, who are long-term admirers of the 27-year-old midfielder, have recently made contact with Chelsea over a possible move this summer.
Last but not least of those who 'might be' leaving Chelsea is Mason Mount, the player you've probably heard the most about. Liverpool are very interested in the 24-year-old ahead of the summer transfer window as uncertainty over his future grows with every passing day.
Mount has just over a year left to run on his contract at the Bridge and Chelsea will not want him to enter the final 12 months of said deal and risk losing him on a free transfer next summer. Liverpool are looking to take advantage of this with Klopp a huge fan of the Portsmouth-born Cobham graduate. Talks have recently re-opened between Chelsea and Mount's entourage over extending his stay but nothing has changed just yet in terms of getting closer to an agreement.
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