When everyone is fit and well, Chelsea have an astonishing 30 first-team players to choose from for their match day squad.
That's not even to mention the likes of Lewis Hall and Omari Hutchinson who have both appeared in the senior side this season at points. Thirty players is a ridiculous amount for any head coach to choose from, so no wonder it's difficult for whoever is in charge to pick what supporters would describe as the 'right team'.
There's no doubt the squad needs trimming this summer and that, as it's understood, is the club's intention. Multiple first-team squad members will be offloaded to firstly cut down the amount of players and also to get some money back for Financial Fair Play reasons after an extortionate couple of transfer windows in terms of incomings at Stamford Bridge.
READ MORE: Chelsea's major Mauricio Pochettino dilemma evident after more debatable Frank Lampard decisions
As well as this, Chelsea have a number of players who are entering the final 12 months or two years of their respective contracts. Todd Boehly and the new ownership group are determined to not repeat previous mistakes made by the club by allowing players to leave either on a free transfer or for a reduced price because of their contractual situation.
Mauricio Pochettino is the front-runner for the job at Chelsea and while nothing is agreed yet, football.london understands there remains confidence from both parties that there will be a deal struck to make him the new permanent head coach. One of the Argentine's first main jobs, if he comes in, will be to help the recruitment team decide who he wants to keep at the club or the players he doesn't have plans for who can therefore be offloaded.
With that said, football.london takes a look at those who could be on their way out of Stamford Bridge when the summer transfer window officially opens...
Mason Mount
Mount will enter the final 12 months of his contract in June and has been strongly linked with a move away from Chelsea. As reported by football.london earlier in the month, Liverpool have made the England international their priority this summer.
Chelsea still want to keep Mount and they will be hoping if Pochettino is appointed, it may persuade the 24-year-old to stay in west London. The Argentine coach is said to be a huge fan of Mount and with his man-management expertise, he could be the person to get the best out of the underperforming midfielder.
Trevoh Chalobah
Chalobah has been linked with a move away from Chelsea in the past couple of transfer windows with the 23-year-old defender admired by numerous clubs across Europe. The Cobham graduate is still eager to make it at Chelsea but the lack of first-team football he has got this season could have a big influence on his decision.
As well as that, Chelsea have an abundance of centre-backs so the competition for a place is very fierce. The Blues aren't expected to add any more central defenders to their ranks this summer but if Chalobah was to leave, then the club could indeed look at potential reinforcements.
Kalidou Koulibaly
So much was expected of Koulibaly when he arrived at Chelsea from Napoli last summer, but things haven't quite gone to plan for the 31-year-old defender. He has still played 22 times in the Premier League in his debut season in England but has failed to impress in plenty of those appearances.
Such form has seen him linked with an immediate return to Italy and Chelsea are unlikely to stand in his way should he wish to go back. The club could still get a sizeable fee should they part ways with Koulibaly this summer rather than wait another couple of years when he will be in his mid-30s.
Cesar Azpilicueta
Azpilicueta, who is the club captain, will enter the final 12 months of his deal at Stamford Bridge at the end of June. The 33-year-old has been a fantastic servant to the club since signing from Marseille over a decade ago but his best days in terms of playing are undoubtedly behind him now.
Mateo Kovacic
Kovacic is another one of the multiple Chelsea players about to enter the final year of their respective contracts. The Croatian has not shown his best form this season at all and many supporters believe he should be dropped from the first team.
There are no talks yet with the former Real Madrid midfielder over extending his deal, football.london understands. Kovacic is admired by Manchester City and Pep Guardiola, who have been strongly linked with making a move for the midfielder.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Loftus-Cheek is now in the latter stages of his Chelsea contract with the midfielder's deal due to expire in June 2024. At the moment, he is very much a bit-part player at Stamford Bridge but has still racked up 20 Premier League appearances this term.
The 27-year-old has been satisfied with such a role at Chelsea in previous seasons but the club could look to actively sell him this summer due to his contractual situation. There has been plenty of interest from other Premier League clubs in the past and that is expected to resurface this summer.
Conor Gallagher
Jurgen Klopp is said to be a big fan of Gallagher with Liverpool interested in making a move for the midfielder in the summer transfer window, as we reported earlier this month. Prior to Frank Lampard coming in, Gallagher was struggling to get many starts for Chelsea but since the interim head coach took charge, he has been virtually an ever-present figure in the XI.
The Blues wouldn't be against selling the England international this summer but would ask for a sizeable fee for his services.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
The Aubameyang experiment has failed for Chelsea. Thomas Tuchel signed the Gabonese striker as he wanted to reunite with him following their shared success at Borussia Dortmund. So when Tuchel was sacked in September, just days after bringing in the former Arsenal captain, the experiment looked doomed.
Chelsea are unlikely to stand in Aubameyang's way should he want to leave the club in the summer. Barcelona are interested in re-signing the 33-year-old if they can get him for cheaper than what they sold him for (£10million) last summer.
Christian Pulisic
Pulisic is almost in the final 12 months of his contract with Chelsea and the American could look to start a new chapter in his career this summer. The 24-year-old has failed to hit the heights expected of him since signing from Borussia Dortmund in 2019 for just short of £60m.
Hakim Ziyech
Ziyech is similar to Pulisic in the way both of them have not been able to show consistency since making moves to Chelsea. The Moroccan undoubtedly has brilliant technical ability but the rest of his game hasn't really suited the three permanent managers he has played under at Stamford Bridge.
The 30-year-old came close to joining Paris Saint-Germain in January and still wants to leave in the club. Chelsea believe they can get a decent fee for Ziyech so he will definitely be transfer listed when the summer comes around.
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