The onset of the summer transfer window means that Chelsea will be heavily backed by their oligarch owner Roman Abramovich to scout the market and bring in quality talent as the Blues seek to reinforce their title-winning credentials this upcoming season.
However, the potential arrival of news faces at Stamford Bridge is bound to bring about some notable departures in the form of first-team players who have been on the fringes of the squad as of late.
Here are three Chelsea first-teamers we expected to head out the exit door this summer-
1. Tammy Abraham
The once favoured Chelsea frontman has had limited minutes coming his way since Thomas Tuchel’s hiring to the top job at the Bridge earlier this year.
Tuchel’s renewed faith in Timo Werner despite his extended run of under-fire showings in front of the goal is believed to upset Abraham who at 23 years of age is seeking regular first-team football to stake his claim as one of the No.9 options in the England fold.
West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Newcastle United are some of the clubs across the country who have registered their interest in signing the Chelsea man but doubts remain over his transfer situation due to the Blues on the lookout for a £40 million payout to sanction the player’s sale.
With Chelsea looking to add another striker to the ranks at Stamford Bridge and Erling Haaland being key to Tuchel’s plans for the summer, Abraham will be eager to call it quits on west London and seek a move elsewhere.
2. Kurt Zouma
The Blues could be in line to lose out on another of their young defensive talents following Fikayo Tomori signing for AC Milan on a permanent basis as talk gains ground of Kurt Zouma being close to heading out Stamford Bridge’s exit door this summer.
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Zouma was a regular name on the teamsheet during Frank Lampard’s days in the Chelsea seat but with Tuchel now in charge, the former Dortmund gaffer has made Antonio Rudiger and Andres Christensen his favoured options to draft in the heart of the backline.
Tottenham Hotspurs under Jose Mourinho had been linked with a move for Zouma but with the Portuguese no longer in the job at Spurs, it remains to be seen whether the North London giants will look to reignite an approach for the Chelsea centre-back.
3. Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Loftus-Cheek’s loan spell last season at Fulham turned out to be quite an uninspiring one as the Craven Cottage outfit failed to survive the drop zone and will now try out their luck in the Championship this forthcoming campaign.
The midfielder’s move to the Londoners had given birth to speculation that he could be in line to grab a major first-team role upon his return to Chelsea but this no longer seems to be the outcome considering his struggles with form and injuries whilst at Fulham.
As Loftus-Cheek’s former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri takes over at Lazio in the Serie A, there are rumours of the Italian coach wanting to sign his old player which could be of interest to Thomas Tuchel who will look to get rid of the deadwood at the club before spending big to bring in new faces.
