Joe Cole has urged Todd Boehly to complete a major summer transfer window clear-out at Chelsea with the current squad looking very bloated. Seventeen confirmed deals have thus far been completed by the Blues under the Todd Boehly consortium and while several players, including Antonio Rudiger, Timo Werner and Jorginho, have left the club in the last 12 months significant changes still need to occur at Stamford Bridge.
With the departures bringing in minimal funds, Chelsea are desperately in need of balancing their books to fit FFP regulations. Selling homegrown stars will act as pure profit for the club which is why an exit for Conor Gallagher or Mason Mount is likely.
Both English midfielders have interested suitors, with Newcastle, Liverpool and Everton circling around Gallagher. Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp's side have made signing Mount their priority for the upcoming transfer window, football.london understands.
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While adhering to those financial rules may be a priority when sanctioning exits, Chelsea offloading more players in the summer is highly likely. Contracts are also expected to play a large role in the hierarchy's decisions, with Boehly adamant to not have a repeat of seeing Rudiger and Andreas Christensen leave on free transfers.
Therefore, this summer, any player that sees their deal expire in 2024 could be as risk of being sold if they are unwillingly to renegotiate contract extension terms. Alongside Mount, Mateo Kovacic is another name who only has 14 months left on his current deal, which could mean his long-term future is away from west London.
A departure for 33-year-old Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang seems guaranteed with his one-year stint at the club a significant disappointment. Building around the next generation of talent will be of high importance at Chelsea and while that may take a few seasons to prove it's worth, Joe Cole has told Boehly exactly how many players should be shown the exit door this summer.
Speaking after Chelsea's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on BT Sport, he said: "Before the Antonio Conte year, Chelsea finished 10th or 11th and Antonio Conte come in and won the league - I’m not saying by any stretch of the imagination I think this group will win the league next year, I think there’s more than enough strong teams.
"But, without a doubt, it’ll help this group, but only if they can offload at least 10 players. I think 10 players need to be trimmed from the squad."
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