It is set to be another really busy transfer window for Chelsea this summer with Todd Boehly continuing his major rebuild of the squad.
The American business tycoon, who has spent over £500million in just two transfer windows, has made it perfectly clear that he is willing to do whatever is possible to make the Blues competitive once again. In January alone, Chelsea completed the signings of eight new players as he made his backing of head coach Graham Potter very public with the figures spent.
Chelsea will need to sell some players this summer in order to balance the books somewhat at Stamford Bridge after such an influx of cash on new arrivals. Boehly and the new ownership group are determined to avoid past mistakes from the club and be more decisive when it comes to players who enter the final two years of their contracts so that could see a number of players leaving this summer.
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The likes of Cesar Azpilicueta, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will all have 12 months remaining on their contracts by the time June rolls around. A number of those players could leave Stamford Bridge in the summer.
Aubameyang will almost definitely call time on his season-long spell at Chelsea this summer. The 33-year-old was signed by Thomas Tuchel last year in an attempt to fix the Blues' goal scoring woes but when the German head coach was sacked from his role just days after the former Arsenal captain arrived, it always looked destined for failure.
He was wanted my MLS clubs in January but turned down the opportunity to move to America. A return to Barcelona could be on the cards, with Aubameyang understood to be keen on remaining in Europe.
Azpilicueta is now just a bit-part player for Chelsea and while he offers useful depth, if the right offer comes in for the club captain then it would likely be accepted. A return to Spain is the Spaniard's most likely destination.
Chelsea are yet to open official talks with Kovacic over extending his contract, football.london understands. The Croatian remains a key part of Potter's plans and that can be seen by his recent partnership with Enzo Fernandez in the middle of the pitch.
There will be plenty of interest in the 28-year-old should his situation remain the same or deteriorate. Manchester City have been long-term admirers of the former Real Madrid midfielder but Chelsea would not want to sell to a club they aim to be competing with in the coming years.
Meanwhile, Loftus-Cheek, who also sees his contract coming to an end in the summer of 2024, is another one who is bound to be linked with a move away from west London. The 27-year-old midfielder is content with his role at Chelsea at the moment, which is a squad rotation player essentially.
Loftus-Cheek has featured 19 times in the Premier League this term for the Blues with 16 of those being from the start and three as a substitute. Unfortunately for the Englishman, he doesn't get into Potter's first-team when everyone is fit and available.
Pulisic could look to leave the club in the summer, but Potter has shown more trust in the American than he had seen under Thomas Tuchel in the latter stages of his Chelsea tenure. The 24-year-old has immense talent but has failed to show than on a consistent basis since joining Chelsea so he could look to move on to a new chapter in his career and he will not be short of offers if that is his decision.
We come to Mount, whose situation has turned into a bit of a contract saga. It's understood Chelsea and Mount are no closer to agreeing an extension on his current contract despite both parties effectively wanting the same outcome: the player to remain at Stamford Bridge.
Mount and his entourage want to feel more valued than the offer that is being put on the table, but so far the club have stayed firm in their valuation. Liverpool are the favourites to sign the England international, with football.london being told the Reds are preparing themselves to make an offer for Mount in the summer should the situation still not be resolved then.
Incomings wise, Chelsea are looking to add another central midfielder to their ranks following the £106million move for Fernandez in the January transfer window. Alexis Mac Allister of Brighton is a serious option for the Blues, football.london understands.
The Argentina international has been in sensational form for the Seagulls this season and Potter is keen to reunite with the midfielder this summer. Mac Allister has previously hinted at wanting to move to a top club in the future and with Chelsea's attractive project, personal terms shouldn't be a problem.
The club also have the likes of Declan Rice, Edson Alvarez and Romeo Lavia on their radar, too. Arsenal are the current favourites to sign Rice with the Gunners doing some major groundwork this season but Chelsea should not be ruled out of this one just yet.
Alvarez remains an option after the Blues had a £43m offer turned down by Ajax last summer. The Mexican was desperate to move to Stamford Bridge back then and it's understood he would still be keen on switching Amsterdam for London.
A central striker, as well as Christopher Nkunku, is something the club are also looking at. As mentioned, Aubameyang is expected to leave and Chelsea will look to replace the Gabonese striker with a traditional centre-forward to try and help the team in front of goal; an area the Blues have struggled in over the course of the season.
The centre of defence is another area Chelsea are considering strengthening in the summer as well. The club retain an interest in Josko Gvardiol of RB Leipzig, although any move for the Croatia international would involve huge money.
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