Thomas Tuchel dropped a telling hint at who might be next out the Chelsea exit door earlier this week.
It’s been a busy summer so far for the Blues who have made six new signings, including deals for Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly. They’re also working hard on potential moves for Leicester City’s Wesley Fofana and Everton ’s Anthony Gordon.
Fofana wants to move to Stamford Bridge this summer but as of yet the clubs can’t agree on a valuation with Chelsea’s latest bid, believed to be £60m with a possible £10m in add-ons, having been rejected.
Speaking after Leicester's penalty shoot-out victory at Stockport in the Carabao Cup, Brendan Rodgers confirmed Fofana was training with the club's U23s after failing to turn up to a training session last week.
Chelsea have also seen a bid in the region of £45m rejected by Everton for attacker Gordon, however it’s expected that the London club will return with an increased offer in the coming days.
There is a new Everton contract on the table for Gordon, whose current deal expires in June 2025, yet reports have suggested the youngster has made it clear he’d like to secure a switch to Stamford Bridge.
While things remain busy on the incoming front, Tuchel hasn’t ruled out potential departures too though, recently stating that while the transfer window remains open “there are always possibilities”.
And pictures released from the club’s Cobham Training Ground this week seem to hint at some of the players who could be next out the door before the transfer window slams shut on 1st September.
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In one of the released images, Marcos Alonso, Billy Gilmour, Ross Barkley and Baba Rahman were all pictured training with the academy squad. All four have failed to make any of Chelsea’s three matchday squads in the Premier League so far and have been heavily tipped with moves away from the club.
On Alonso, a target for Barcelona, Tuchel confirmed following the opening day 1-0 victory at Everton that the Spanish international was aiming to push through a move. The Blues boss said: “He tries to leave and we agreed to this wish, and that’s why it would have never made sense to have him on the pitch today”.
Gilmour is said to be a target for both Brighton and Everton, with the midfielder reportedly keen to link up again with former manager Frank Lampard at Goodison Park. It’s understood Barkley was also offered to his former club earlier in the summer too, however they look to have opted against that move meaning his next destination remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, Championship Reading are thought to be monitoring Rahman closely.
Beyond these four, there are also players such as Kenedy, Michy Batshuayi, Ethan Ampadu, and Trevoh Chalobah who remain on the periphery of Tuchel’s plans and as a result, could be set to depart from the club in the next seven days.
