Chelsea Clear Out Could See Up To Eleven Players Leave

Chelsea could sell up to 11 players from their squad, as Thomas Tuchel prepares to challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title.

Tuchel arrived at Stamford Bridge in January, with Chelsea in ninth place after a poor start to the season under Frank Lampard.

By the end of the season they finished fourth and won the Champions League final, beating City in Porto, and making them everyone's favourites to challenge Pep Guardiola's side in the league next season.

The Chelsea boss hasn't yet had a transfer window to put his own mark on the squad, and according to reports he could see up to 11 players leave.

According to the Daily Mail, Tammy Abraham, Olivier Giroud, Ross Barkley, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Billy Gilmour, Connor Gallagher, Davide Zappacosta, Emerson, Tiemoue Bakayoko and even Christian Pulisic could all join Fikayo Tomori out the door.

Tomori had an excellent start to life in Italy. Image: PA Images

Tomori has been on loan at AC Milan in the second half of the season and the Serie A side have an option to sign the young centre back.

It looks likely that the England international will be heading to the San Siro on a permanent basis, one reason the Blues have been linked with a centre back this summer.

Barkley and Loftus-Cheek have also both been on loan this season, with Aston Villa and Fulham respectively but there isn't options on their permanent deals.

Villa are unlikely to want Barkley again after a poor end to his time in the Midlands, after a good start, whilst Fulham were relegated.

Abraham was left out of the FA Cup and Champions League finals and barely played at all in the back end of the season and clearly Tuchel doesn't want him, they have been linked with a big money move for Romelu Lukaku.

Abraham has been outside most matchday squads recently. Image: PA Images

Likewise Giroud is likely to end his spell in the Premier League as a European champion, with the striker set to join Tomori in Milan.

Gilmour and Gallagher both seem more likely to go on loan than leave permanently this summer, with both youngsters looking for opportunities for first team football.

Zappacosta, Emerson and Bakayoko have never really been first teamers in west London and will almost certainly leave this summer.

The least likely departure is Pulisic, due to how excellent he clearly is, but some questions do remain over his future at the club.

The American has often been used as a substitute for Tuchel and has come on to play at wing back as well, something that isn't ideal for the former Borussia Dortmund forward.

Topics: Chelsea, Football, Premier League, Transfer gossip, Tammy Abraham

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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