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Chelsea Risk Losing Six Academy Prospects For Free Due To Sanctions

Chelsea Risk Losing Six Academy Prospects For Free Due To Sanctions

Whilst much of the attention is on the likes of Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea could lose some good youngsters for free.

The focus at Chelsea might currently be on losing first team squad members Antonio Rudiger, Cesar Azpilicueta and Anders Christiansen, but some upcoming academy prospects could also leave this summer.


There's many problems that Chelsea have already run into since the sanctions on Roman Abramovich hit the Premier League team last week.

It has left them unable to sell tickets to games, which Simon Jordan has been fuming about, and the reason they embarrassingly asked for their game against Middlesbrough at the weekend to be moved behind closed doors.

Travel problems led to Thomas Tuchel offering to drive the team bus, which takes the word 'coach' to a very new definition of his job.

However the future issues are on the playing side, with the Blues unable to buy or sell players, or even sign current ones to new deals. Their three defenders all leaving in the summer is the biggest issue, but it's not the only one.

Highly rated midfielders George McEachran and Xavier Simons are both out of contract this summer and would currently have to leave, and they're joined by fellow academy graduates, Thierno Ballo, Sam McLelland, Josh Brooking and Dion Rankine.

Simons played in the Carabao Cup game vs Brentford earlier this season. Image: PA Images
Simons played in the Carabao Cup game vs Brentford earlier this season. Image: PA Images

Whilst the players' deals would be up in the summer, a source told the Sun that this is around the time in the year when negotiations would normally take place.

"Everyone is focussed on the players in the first team who are out of contract but the ones we feel really sorry for are the youngsters," the club course told the newspaper.

"Now is the time when the boys start talking about new contracts with the club and everyone is in the dark.

"They are the ones coming through and if Chelsea are not allowed to sign new contracts with them it’s a huge blow to both parties."

George McEachran is another who could leave for free in the summer. Image: PA Images
George McEachran is another who could leave for free in the summer. Image: PA Images

Losing such talented youngsters would be a blow for the longer term future at Stamford Bridge, but potentially even for next season.

With the future still far from clear in west London, the squad could certainly have a very strange look to it next season, with all the players currently out on loan returning to the side whilst sanctions remain in place.

On the touchline, Tuchel is now reportedly interesting Manchester United, to replace the gap left by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's sacking in November.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Chelsea, Premier League