Chelsea look set for an extremely busy summer of outgoings as they look to trim down an over-inflated squad.
The Blues currently have 32 first team players on their books (transfermarkt) and a number of them will need to be sold in the upcoming transfer window so potential new manager Mauricio Pochettino has the opportunity to reshape it how he sees fit. The likes of Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang look certain to be sold, while Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have also been linked with moves elsewhere.
With a large number of the squad having only arrived under the ownership of Todd Boehly, many remain tied to long-term deals. As such, only three are confirmed to be making permanent Chelsea exits this summer, as things stand.
READ MORE: Chelsea face £87m summer transfer dilemma with Joao Felix loan decision to be made
The first of those on the list, and without doubt the most likely not to be here come August, is midfielder Denis Zakaria. Zakaria arrived on a season-long-loan from Juventus last summer, in a deal that does possess an option to buy.
That said, Zakaria has struggled to shrug off the injury concerns that clouded his move to Stamford Bridge, which has restricted him to just 11 appearances in all competitions. He has also played just once under Frank Lampard, which certainly suggests his future lays elsewhere.
Another loanee who, at present, is set to return to his parent club is Joao Felix. Felix made the move from Atletico Madrid in January in a deal that does not include an option to make it permanent.
The Portugal international has impressed in spells at Stamford Bridge, but has not started any of the last five matches, which puts his future beyond this season in doubt. Atletico Madrid could command as much as £87 million for Felix this summer, but for a player who is yet to nail down a position, that is very much on the steep side.
Another loan deal could be a potential avenue for Chelsea to exploit if they want him to return, but with Christopher Nkunku already set to join, a big decision lays ahead. And last, but certainly not least on the list is N'Golo Kante, who is Chelsea's only contracted first team player with a deal expiring this summer.
Kante has been plagued by injury this season but has started six of the last eight matches in all competitions, and remains a crucial part of the squad. At one stage earlier in the campaign, Kante had looked destined to leave Chelsea on a free this summer, but according to Fabrizio Romano, he remains part of the project and talks over a new contract are underway.
On the other hand, nothing has been signed as of yet and there is now less than two months for all parties to come to an agreement.
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