Chelsea owner Todd Boehly could be about to sanction an incredible mass exodus from Stamford Bridge as it's claimed he's ready to offload any player unwilling to commit to a minimum two-year contract.
Chelsea's spending in the two transfer windows since Boehly acquired control of the club exceeds the £500million mark, with an all-time record £323million spent in January alone.
Graham Potter's current squad is bloated and exits are inevitable in the summer, although the Telegraph claims Chelsea are determined to avoid players enterting the final 12 months of their contracts at all costs – even considering selling those with two or fewer years left on their deals.
That means the likes of Mateo Kovačić, Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, César Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva – whose contracts expire in June 2024 – could face ultimatums over their futures in the summer. If they don't sign, it seems the club will look to cash in.
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N'Golo Kante could be added to that list, as his contract is up for expiry at the end of the season, while those with deals expiring in June 2025 may soon be forced to make decisions about their futures as well.
Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell, Conor Gallagher, Edouard Mendy, Hakim Ziyech and Kepa Arrizabalaga are on that list.
Of course, it's highly unlikely that Chelsea will get rid of all 14 players in one fell swoop.
Silva, at 38, may be the exception to the contract policy, while the likes of Kepa, Havertz and Gallagher are all young enough to keep their places in the first team.
But the report claims Liverpool, Manchester United and Man City are interested in Mount, while AC Milan are known admirers of fellow England international Loftus-Cheek. Kovačić has been heavily linked with a move to City in recent days.
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Topics: Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Todd Boehly, Mason Mount, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Kai Havertz
Dominic Booth