Any question marks over whether Mauricio Pochettino was cut throat enough to walk into Chelsea and get rid of underperforming players hasn't taken long to be dispelled.
After a 2022/23 campaign that was beyond dubious in terms of money spent and signings made, the Argentine is in the midst of a firesale that has seen six players sold. And he's not done there, with five more first-team stars set to head for the exit door in a mass exodus that could ultimately recuperate around £250million.
Cynics could point to the Financial Fair Play limits as the primary motivation for Chelsea's clinical work. Any deals completed on June 30 means they will be included in the London club's accounts for the 2022/23 campaign, therefore balancing the books after the £600 million spent in the two transfer windows overseen by Todd Boehly.
Regardless, Pochettino's work has been swift and savage. Kai Havertz, seemingly forever a cult hero with the Blues after scoring the winner in the 2020/21 Champions League final, has joined Arsenal for £65million. Mateo Kovacic has also headed to a rival club, signing for Man City for £25million.
Meanwhile, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, and N’Golo Kante have all signed for clubs in the Saudi Pro League. And on Friday, Ruben Loftus-Cheek became the sixth confirmed exit after signing for AC Milan for £18.5million.
The culling isn't done yet. Hakim Ziyech's proposed move to the Middle East is now on hold after he failed his medical at Al-Nassr, with the clubs having previously agreed a £17million fee. Despite his setback, he could still seal an exit before the summer window slams shut.
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And the most high-profile move away from Stamford Bridge this summer is on the brink of completion. Mason Mount will leave his boyhood club for Manchester United after a deal worth up to £60 million was finalised on Thursday, with both parties now working on the small print after prolonged negotiations.
It appears almost certain that strikers Romelu Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang won't be seen in Chelsea colours again, with Pochettino's seemingly successful pursuit of Villarreal striker Nicolas Jackson signalling his intentions, while Christian Pulisic up for sale for a fee of £25million.
CHELSEA FIRESALE - DONE DEALS
Kai Havertz - £65m
Mateo Kovacic - £25m
Kalidou Koulibaly - £20m
Ruben Loftus-Cheek - £18.5m
Edouard Mendy - £16m
N’Golo Kante - free
PENDING
Mason Mount - £60m
POTENTIAL EXITS
Hakim Ziyech - £17m (in doubt)
Christian Pulisic - £25m
Romelu Lukaku - Inter
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Various clubs interested
