Young English players running down their contracts and making clubs sweat. There's a precedent for that.
Chelsea have fallen foul to it previously and they've also been willing to allow academy graduates to leave for a multitude of reasons. Be it for raising money, lack of first team opportunties or with preference being given to big money signings instead, swathes of talented players have departed Stamford Bridge in the past.
The Blues haven't truly been forced into many sales over the years recently either. Eden Hazard is the biggest one but there were seven years of high quality service for him and a massive transfer fee. His contract was coming to its end and Real Madrid offered a hefty sum.
