Things are heating up in the world of transfers for Chelsea as the summer fast approaches and quick decisions are required. While there are still areas that need addressing in the squad for incomings it is the outgoings that are set to take precedent.
The 32-man squad and financial strain brought about by the lack of European football and heavy investment in the opening 12-months of the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital reign have coincided with a much needed rebuild. Under what is expected to be Mauricio Pochettino's coaching, more than 15 first team players could leave the club.
From failed transfers to youth graduates and everything in-between, very few are safe and no on the market for the right price this summer such is the scale of continued overhaul at Stamford Bridge. With the club's own June 30 soft deadline day to get sales done for accounting purposes, action is taking place already.
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Before Pochettino has even been appointed, messages are streaming into the club regarding various players. Brighton, for example, have made their feelings perfectly clear towards Levi Colwill that they would like him to remain at the club after an impressive loan spell.
Their fans chanted 'Levi Colwill, we want you to stay,' after their penultimate home game of the season. Roberto De Zerbi has also echoed that sentiment, saying earlier this month: "I would like to work with him for another two, three, four years.
"It's difficult to find a another centre-back, left centre-back, with his quality. He’s a good guy, I think he’s improving a lot. This year his improvement has been fantastic. I hope he can stay with us."
The 20-year-old looks set to return from his first taste of top flight action as an established first team player under Pochettino, though. Despite interest from across Europe in signing him, football.london understands that isn't seen as an option for Chelsea who want to make him a pillar of their side moving forward.
The same cannot be said for Callum Hudson-Odoi. After a good start to life in Germany he has played in just three of the last 16 league games with a mixture of form and injury adding a sour end to his time away. The 22-year-old was hoping to prove a point to Chelsea but has instead only gone to show why he is likely to be joining those in the departure lounge.
Having shown positive signs under Thomas Tuchel, Hudson-Odoi's relative lack of game time since his debut as a 17-year-old in 2018 is evidence of his stunted development, especially since the club rejected a £70million bid from Bayern Munich for him.
That being said, Leverkusen still sent a message of gratitude to him. They wrote on social media: "Thank you, @Calteck10."
Another player that has made a bigger impact during their season on loan is Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian is one of the big questions heading into the summer under Pochettino. Although he torched relationships with the club in 2021 there are very few that still remain in place, especially when players are sold.
If he can win over the fans with goals then it isn't unfeasible that the striker Chelsea have been crying out for all season is already on the books. With six goals in six games for Inter Milan towards the end of the season and a Champions League final on the cards he is finally flourishing again.
Once he overcame initial fitness issues and got bedded back into Italy he has proved his worth and is a player that apears to suit Pochettino's playstyle, too. Milan are far from set on a decision as to what will be pursued after this year, as well.
"Lukaku loves Inter, he wants to stay with us. He feels very good here," director Giuseppe Marotta said. "Negotiations with Chelsea? He’s on loan until June 30, then we still don’t know Chelsea plans. We’re waiting for that."
It may well be one that burns long into the summer with factors for his potential departure needing to be decided first. Whatever the case, Chelsea certainly have three returning players from loan in very different states and with mixed futures.
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