The 2023 summer transfer window is officially open and so starts a manic few months for Chelsea Football Club.
After two chaotic transfer windows under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, some may have been expecting a quiet period for Chelsea. That, though, is not expected to be the case whatsoever.
football.london understands the club are trying to offload 10-plus players over the course of the transfer window. A number of players are in the final year or two years of their respective contracts and the Chelsea board are trying to be a lot more decisive when it comes to these sort of situations to avoid repeating past mistakes.
Conor Gallagher, who has two years remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge, could be one of those to depart this summer. As reported by football.london last week, there is a growing expectation that the 23-year-old could be sold by the club over the transfer window.
Newcastle United and West Ham United have expressed an interest in Gallagher, football.london understands. Despite missing just three Premier League matches last season, the England international never really cemented a place in the first XI.
Meanwhile, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is expected to leave. The midfielder did get close to moving to AC Milan but talk over that deal has stopped in recent days with a change of the Italian club's board. Whether or not that revives itself remains to be seen, but Loftus-Cheek has interest in his signature from all across Europe so finding him a new club should not be too much of a problem for the Blues.
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Mateo Kovacic is on the verge of leaving the club, football.london understands. Manchester City are the current front-runners to sign the Croatia international, who has just 12 months remaining on his deal in west London. Personal terms are not thought to be an issue between the recently-crowned treble winners and Kovacic.
N'Golo Kante is very close to being confirmed as an Al-Ittihad player with his deal at Chelsea due to expire at the end of the month. Kante will leave Stamford Bridge after seven years with the Blues where he has established himself as a true club legend.
So that is four midfielders who could be leaving the club this summer. There needs to be some coming in the other way, also, and that's why there are two midfielders expecting to be signed.
Moises Caicedo is the club's priority in the centre of midfield with football.london expecting Chelsea to push for his signature over the course of the transfer window. Brighton, though, are tough negotiators and that has shown in the past in their dealings with Chelsea.
The Seagulls want to sign Levi Colwill on a permanent basis after a really impressive season-long loan spell at the Amex Stadium. However, Chelsea will not entertain any further bids for the 20-year-old after rejecting Brighton's opening offer believed to be in the region of £40million.
Another name on the list for Chelsea in midfield is Southampton's Romeo Lavia, who the Blues watched intensively over the 2022/23 season. Chelsea are big fans of the 19-year-old defensive midfielder and could explore a move for him in the coming weeks. Although Liverpool have too registered an interest in the Belgian.
Chelsea are also pursuing a move for Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana after an impressive season with the Italian club. The 26-year-old has been on the club's radar for some time now and with Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy, with Chelsea open to selling both this summer, failing to convince in between the posts, the Blues are after a new first-choice goalkeeper.
Inter and Chelsea are expected to have talks later this week to discuss a whole variety of players, including Onana. Romelu Lukaku will also be on the agenda, as will Trevoh Chalobah, who Inter have a keen interest in this summer.
Chelsea need to try and build a relationship with the Italians in a professional sense and that might help with their pursuit of Onana. Mike Maignan has also been discussed, although the AC Milan goalkeeper is expected to be a lot more expensive than Onana.
On to even more outgoings and while there haven't been any major developments with Mason Mount, Chelsea are expecting Manchester United to submit a new offer for the midfielder in the near future. Chelsea are adamant they will not sell Mount for a penny less than £70million, while United are understandably trying to drive the price down considering the England international has just 12 months left to run on his contract at Stamford Bridge.
Also, the Kai Havertz to Real Madrid talk has slowed down in recent days. football.london understands that while the Germany international will not actively push for a move away from Chelsea, the thought of playing for Los Blancos definitely appeals to him.
Hakim Ziyech has interest from Saudi Arabia and the Moroccan wants to leave Chelsea this summer. Christian Pulisic is also keen to depart Stamford Bridge after another season of limited game-time. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is also expected to leave the club after an unsuccessful season-long spell in west London.
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