have embarked on an unprecedented spending spree, with their deadline day, of bringing their total outlay for the season to £550million.
While may have improved the Blues’ squad, it has created many problems for to solve, not least keeping his players happy amid increased competition for game time and balancing the books to stay within Financial Fair Play rules.
The easiest solution to both these problems will be the sale of several first-team players, a process that has already begun with .
There will be a lot more outgoings at Stamford Bridge this summer, and with that in mind Metro Sport takes a look at no less than 16 players who Chelsea could sell:
Edouard Mendy
With Kepa Arrizabalaga seemingly Potter’s first-choice goalkeeper (for now), Mendy looks to be heading out the door after struggling for form and fitness last year.
He’s also rejected several offers to extend his contract beyond its current expiry date in 2025, but the AFCON and Champions League winner is still highly-rated and Chelsea could easily turn a profit on the 30-year-old who cost £21m.
Trevoh Chalobah
While he has been a near-ever present under Potter, it’s hard to imagine Chalobah staying in the starting XI when the likes of Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile are up to speed.
The academy graduate garnered interest from Premier League and Serie A sides last summer and with five years left on his contract he could bring in a big fee for the Blues like Marc Guehi and Fikayo Tomori before him.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Once considered the best centre-back in the world, Koulibaly’s stock has drastically fallen since his move from Napoli last summer.
It’ll be hard to shift the out of form 31-year-old, given his deal runs until 2026, but if a buyer comes calling Potter will likely jump at the chance to recoup some of the £33.5m that Thomas Tuchel spent on him.
Cesar Azpilicueta
While the Chelsea captain recently signed a one-year contract extension, links to Barcelona have persisted and if the Spanish giants return for him in the summer his 11-year stay at Stamford Bridge may be up.
Azpilicueta turns 34 next season and with competition from Reece James and January and Malo Gusto it’s hard to seem him getting much game time.
N’Golo Kante
A Chelsea legend, Kante seems almost certain to leave the club on a free in the summer, so while they won’t get a fee for defensive midfielder, his huge salary will be off the wage bill at least.
His absence this season has really hurt the Blues, but with his injury problems mounting it’s hard to see his contract getting renewed.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Following an impressive loan spell at Crystal Palace and a great season under Maurizio Sarri, Loftus-Cheek’s career sadly took a turn for the worse thanks to injuries.
Though he remains a great utility player when fit, the academy graduate’s contract is up next year, so this summer will be Potter’s last chance to cash in on the 27-year-old.
Conor Gallagher
Another midfielder who made his mark at Palace, Gallagher has struggled since his return to west London and seemed destined to leave on deadline day only for the 22-year-old to turn down a £45m move to Everton.
But with Fernandez now in the squad, the England international will surely go in the near-future, with Palace and Newcastle still very interested in his services.
Christian Pulisic
Had he not picked up a serious knee injury, Pulisic would likely have left in January, with Chelsea now set to cash in for less money this summer as the winger’s contract enters its final year.
Never fully trusted despite his great potential, the USA star could still fetch in around £30m with Juventus, Newcastle and even Manchester United said to be interested.
Hakim Ziyech
Ziyech ought to be a PSG player by now, but the .
The Moroccan still has two years left on his deal but don’t expect him to hang around west London for long.
Armando Broja
The young striker’s season is already over thanks to a but his Chelsea career could also be at an end, even after recently signing a new deal until 2028.
It’s early days, but it seems unlikely that he’ll transform into the elite No.9 that Chelsea have so desperately craved, so Potter will surely sanction his sale if the likes of West Ham and Southampton make another move for him.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
As panic buys go, Aubameyang has to be among the worst in the club’s history, with just one league goal to his name so far and it is beyond obvious that Potter has no plans for the former Arsenal skipper.
Even as he turns 34 in the summer, the striker’s reputation alone will attract some interest, though this may be a case where the player is released early just to get his huge wages off the books.
Denis Zakaria & Joao Felix
While technically they won’t earn money off them, Zakaria and Felix’s wages are no doubt creating a big dent in Chelsea’s finances, so the sooner their loan deals are over the better for Boehly’s bank balance.
The Juventus and Atletico Madrid stars will almost certainly not be returning to Stamford Bridge in the future so Potter will be praying they can help his side up move up the table before season’s end.
Levi Colwill
As well as their current first-team, Chelsea have plenty of out on loan stars they can sell for a great sum, Colwill among them.
The teenager has been brilliant for Brighton this season and it’s easy to imagine the Seagulls offering £20m for the centre-back at the end of the campaign.
Callum Hudson-Odoi
Once viewed as the future of the Blues, Hudson-Odoi’s time at his boyhood club looks to be over, especially with his loan at Bayer Leverkusen yielding just one goal and one assist so far.
Still only 22, there is time for him to rejuvenate his career but not at Chelsea with reports suggesting that he’s already looking at potential summer transfers.
Romelu Lukaku
Formerly Chelsea’s record signing, Lukaku has been more of a punchline than a prolific striker of late, thanks to his comical performances for Inter Milan and Belgium.
Inter probably won’t take him back full time however, but there will no doubt be suitors for the former Manchester United man – even if they won’t pay anywhere near the £97m Tuchel splashed on him just 18 months ago.
Other loan stars
They may not have as much value as the aforementioned names, but should Boehly need to raise even more funds the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Malang Sarr and Tiemoue Bakayoko could also be shown the exit door.
The latter very nearly did leave for good on deadline day only for his proposed transfer to Lyon to collapse at the last minute.
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