Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly is preparing to overhaul the squad this summer with a number of players at risk of being sold. The Blues have over 30 senior players at the club following Boehly's £600million spend in the last two transfer windows.
Many players in Frank Lampard's side are playing for their futures at Stamford Bridge despite some already looking like they would be happy to move on ahead of next season. Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are all likely to leave Chelsea this summer after struggling for first team minutes this term.
Mason Mount could leave the club as he enters the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge, with Liverpool seriously interested in signing the 24-year-old midfielder, football.london understands. A new manager is set to be appointed ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and they are likely to have the final say on which players are put up for sale with Mauricio Pochettino the leading candidate to become Graham Potter's permanent successor.
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Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand insisted on his YouTube channel podcast that Conor Gallagher is one of those players fighting for their future at Stamford Bridge. The ex-United defender said: "It was a good goal [against Bournemouth] to be fair to him [Gallagher], but he's fighting to stay at the club I think.
"A new manager is coming in so I think Gallagher still has a lot to do, like the others, to prove he should be there next season. He's a local lad and someone who's come through the academy so I'm sure he will want to stay there.
"It will be interesting to see what happens to him this summer," Ferdinand added. Gallagher has played regularly this season, with 41 appearances in all competitions - albeit he has not been able to nail down a regular starting place.
Boehly is keen to cut the bloated first-team squad and raise funds after their huge spending spree over the last year. Pochettino is said to have targeted signing a new goalkeeper, central midfielder and striker as he closes in on being appointed as manager at Stamford Bridge ahead of next season.
Gallagher has been linked with the likes of Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Newcastle in recent months and could be sold to help the Blues abide Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, whilst raising more funds for Chelsea to reinvest in the squad. If Pochettino is appointed and opts to keep Gallagher, a new central midfielder could still come in and move the 23-year-old further down the pecking order - despite his recent upturn in form under Lampard.
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