Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca during the Club World Cup.placeholder image
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca during the Club World Cup. | AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea could still sell several first-team stars this summer
Chelsea have developed a remarkable recruitment strategy over recent years. What is even more remarkable is that it appears to be working.
The Blues have been the Premier League’s biggest spenders by some distance since Todd Boehly bought the club in 2022 and this summer alone they have bought eight players and sold seven, demonstrating perfectly their scattergun recruitment policy which will continue to work wonders as long as they can find suitors for unwanted stars.
Noni Madueke is the headline sale in a series of players who have brought in the best part of £150million despite not being part of Enzo Maresca’s plans. Their total number of sales in this window could go well beyond double figures if the west London club get their way.
A deal believed to be in the region of £25m has reportedly been agreed with Burnley for Armando Broja, while Joao Felix has completed a move to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr. Marc Guiu is also set to complete a loan move to Sunderland, with further deals to follow.
Four more forwards could depart Stamford Bridge
Romano also states that Christopher Nkunku could leave this summer, with talks ongoing as he plans to depart for a fresh start elsewhere. Nkunku has also attracted interest from the Red Devils in the past, though talk is currently quiet after the Frenchman played his role in Chelsea’s Club World Cup success.
In addition, Chelsea are hoping to offload Raheem Sterling and Tyrique George. Sterling spent a disappointing spell on loan with Arsenal last campaign and the Blues will hope to offload him permanently with two years remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge amidst reported Champions League interest. Meanwhile, 19-year-old George broke through to the first-team squad last season and the club may look to send him out on loan with Bundesliga links surfacing, though a permanent transfer is not out of the question according to The Sun.
Further sales Chelsea could make this summer
Chelsea have also reportedly agreed a deal with Burnley for Lesley Ugochukwu as per a separate report by Romano on X, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is said to be close to completing a move to Everton after finding minutes hard to come by at Stamford Bridge last season.
Carney Chukwuemeka is another who has been linked with an exit, Bundesliga teams circling after the 21-year-old spent part of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund. Further departures may still be on the cards, with the likes of Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga and Axel Disasi not expected to be part of Maresca’s plans in the new season after also returning from recent loan spells.
It would be a huge ask for Chelsea to complete moves away for all the players mentioned, but their recent business should not be doubted and big-money sales suggest that the club know what they are doing in the transfer market. If desired sales can be completed, there is every chance the Blues return for further incomings in addition to reported moves for Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho.
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