Timo Werner could lead a clearout of up to 15 players at Chelsea as the club looks to streamline its playing squad ahead of the new campaign.
Raheem Sterling joined in a £50million transfer including add-ons from Manchester City before Kalidou Koulibaly became the Blues' second summer signing after transferring from Napoli in a £33.8million (€40m) deal. Chelsea are now hopeful of signing both Jules Kounde and Prisnel Kimpembe from Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain respectively.
Werner hinted at a possible exit from Stamford Bridge this summer when stating: "It is clear I want to play more and I should play more to first be in good shape for the World Cup and, also, to have a chance to play at the World Cup." The German international could be the most eye-catching exit in a busy summer at the club.
Barcelona have already confirmed the arrival into their first-team squad of Andreas Christensen while Antonio Rudiger joined Real Madrid as a free agent after his contract at Stamford Bridge expired and Romelu Lukaku has returned to Inter Milan on loan for the 2022-23 season. Yet the exits are unlikely to stop there.
Barca remain hopeful of signing both Cesar Azpilicueta – the Blues club captain - and Marcos Alonso as part of their efforts to revamp the squad at Camp Nou. Defender Levi Colwill – the England Under-21 international who starred at Huddersfield Town last season – will also seek first-team opportunities elsewhere should Kounde and Kimpembe arrive. Three more defenders who spent last season out on loan deals – Emerson Palmieri, Ethan Ampadu and Baba Rahman – will also be moved on again, potentially on permanent exits.
Tino Anjorin – who has spent loan spells at Lokomotiv Moscow and Huddersfield – is also tipped to exit Stamford Bridge while Billy Gilmour also looks set for another loan deal away after playing for Norwich City last season. Tiemoue Bakayoko may depart Chelsea permanently; the Frenchman has not played for the club since the 2018 FA Cup final and despite being on loan at Milan, he has reportedly agreed a four-year deal to join Marseille.
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Other likely exits from the Blues this summer include Ross Barkley – who made just six Premier League appearances last season after spending the 2020-21 campaign at Aston Villa – and Kenedy, who featured three times for Thomas Tuchel’s side after returning from a loan spell at Flamengo.
Michy Batshuayi netted 14 goals on loan at Besiktas last season and will depart the club either on loan or on a permanent basis this summer while Armando Broja looks set to join West Ham in a permanent deal after starring for Southampton last term. There are also doubts over Hakim Ziyech ’s future – the Moroccan has started just 29 Premier League games across two seasons at the club.
