Chelsea have been dealt a blow in their attempts to make a free transfer move this year. With Todd Boehly dipping into his pockets to fund major transfers left, right and centre since coming in there is a need for efficiency when possible, and picking up high quality players on free transfers offers just that.
There are a number of outstanding players with less than six-months to go on their deals in 2023 including Chelsea trio Jorginho, N'Golo Kante and Thiago Silva. Karim Benzema is also in the same boat, as is Memphis Depay. All of these players are now available for negotiations over a pre-contract with clubs from abroad.
At a time of panic for clubs there is an opportunity to take advantage over uncertainty between clubs and players across the continent in order to secure bargains. Chelsea have themselves been linked with a few, perhaps none more so than Brighton's Leandro Trossard.
