Chelsea Firesale: Sarr, Pulisic, Gallagher, Ziyech, and Kovacic likely to leave London based club

The Blues are in danger of breaching financial rules and could be forced into trimming their bloated squad during the next transfer window. It seems that Chelsea’s reckless spending may finally be catching up with them.

Earlier this week it was revealed that the club had made an eye-watering loss of $149m (121 euro million)– a deficit the current ownership has blamed on the economic sanctions imposed on the club and former owner Roman Abramovich following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Chelsea players to leave in Summer 2023

• Baba Rehman

Baba Rahman the left-back who joined the club in 2015 and has spent time on loan in Germany, France, Spain, and Greece since.

In recent seasons he’s been with Championship side Reading, where he is a regular starter when fit. He’s not going to fetch much of a transfer fee, but hopefully, the Royals can be convinced to finally rid Chelsea of one of their longest-serving players this summer.

• Malang Sarr

Malang Sarr always seemed like a strange signing. After arriving in the summer of 2020, he was immediately shipped out on loan and, despite enjoying a short stint in the first team during an injury crisis, he’s never really fully convinced at Chelsea.

Sarr is currently at Monaco, and it is believed that the Ligue 1 side has the option to make the switch permanent for around £10 million ($12m) this summer. Should they not exercise that option, he should still have suitors. Several other French clubs would be interested, while Sevilla was linked in January.

• Tiémoué Bakayoko

He flopped badly in England, though, and has since been out on loan. AC Milan has the option to make his move permanent this summer, but that is unlikely given his underwhelming performances at San Siro.

His wages will be a stumbling block for any other interested parties and Bakayoko may be content to sit out the remaining year of his contract. Chelsea, of course, will be desperate to move him on.

• Conor Gallagher

Conor Gallagher is the first player mentioned with genuine value in the transfer market. Not only is he homegrown – meaning his transfer fee will appear as pure profit on the club’s accounts – he also proved that he can perform in the Premier League during his loan spell at Crystal Palace.

The Eagles have missed him desperately this season and if they can remain in the Premier League, they will surely come in for this summer.

They won’t be the only team interested either. Gallagher would make a solid addition to the vast majority of clubs in the English top flight and although Chelsea would likely prefer to keep him around, the allure of receiving £40m ($48m) plus for the fringe player will likely be too much to resist.

• Christian Pulisic

Few Chelsea players attract as much media attention as the USMNT’s golden boy. And while Christian Pulisic has enjoyed some great moments at Chelsea, 26 goals in 139 appearances is an ultimately underwhelming return.

It is increasingly feeling like Pulisic has been singled out.No longer a breakthrough prospect at 24, the Hershey-born forward needs to start fulfilling his potential – something which may be impossible at Chelsea due to their bloated attacking ranks.

Pulisic has plenty of options for his next step. He may feel he has unfinished business in the Premier League, though there will be plenty of interest on the continent too.

• Hakim Ziyech

Hakim Ziyech should not even be at Chelsea currently. If not for the Blues’ liberal approach to paperwork deadlines, the Morrocan would have joined Paris Saint-Germain on loan this winter. That mix-up caused friction between the club and Ziyech will be hoping the atmosphere will have cooled in time for the summer transfer market, as he seems to have no future at Stamford Bridge. He’s too old to not be playing regularly and would surely move on happily at the end of the season.

• Mateo Kovacic

It had long been reported that Chelsea was only planning to keep hold of one of N’Golo Kante or Mateo Kovacic. And with Kante signing a new contract the Croatian’s future is unclear.

The Blues are yet to kick off talks over a new deal and Tuchel is supposedly keen on taking one of his former trusted lieutenants to Bavaria at the end of the season. Selling Kovacic seems like a risk. Not only has he always been a solid performer, Kante’s injury issues mean the France international cannot be relied upon to be the long-term partner of Enzo Fernandez.