Chelsea will look to turn things around after they had a disappointing season in the Premier League, which saw them finish. in the bottom half of the table (12th). The team failed to find consistency despite splashing the cash and spending millions of £s in building the team.
The team changed managers across the season, with as many as four taking charge of the team, but none of them was able to steer the ship, as the team put up an abysmal show they’d be want to forget.
Ahead of the new season, the club has handed over the responsibilities to Mauricio Pochettino, who is tasked with building a better future at Stamford Bridge. The first and foremost task for the Argentinian would be to assess his squad and trim down the first team, which had as many as 30 senior players.
On that note, let’s take a look at five players that Chelsea should sell ahead of the 2023-24 season.
#5 Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa Arrizabalaga came into Chelsea after the club gave in a world record bid for a goalkeeper, that is yet to be broken to date. However, it might just be time for the Blues to part ways with the Spaniard with the side looking to trim down their wage expenses. The club can also cash in on the asset who has two more years at the club and many clubs would be interested in acquiring Arrizabalaga’s services.
While Kepa won back the No.1 spot from fellow teammate Edouard Mendy, his performance between the sticks wasn’t constant. He has been nominated for one of the best saves of the season in the Premier League but conceded 45 goals in 39 appearances this season and this surely is an underwhelming statistic for a goalkeeper of a team that aims to challenge for titles.
What is more concerning is his tendency to falter in crucial and high-pressure matches, and that can prove costly to the team’s ambitions, thus selling Kepa can allow the club to explore other options by bringing in someone who can show more consistency.
#4 Hakim Ziyech
Morocco powered themselves to a surprise performance and Hakim Ziyech played a key role
Hakim Ziyech had a very successful year with the national team and played a significant role in Morocco’s historic achievement of becoming the first African side ever to reach the semi-final of the FIFA World Cup.
However, his performances for the Blues were limited with the player involved in just 24 games, most of it coming from the bench. The player also did not create much impact, managing just three assists the entire season.
The Moroccan international was close to joining Paris Saint-Germain in the January window, and while it is uncertain if PSG will persuade him again, several clubs will certainly be willing to sign the player and Chelsea too will look to offload Ziyech and keep the club’s books in line with the Financial Fair Play regulations.
#3 Mason Mount
Chelsea hopes to generate significant funds through sales, to counterbalance last season’s spending and boost their squad ahead of the new season. Mount has only one year left on his current contract and Chelsea will look to cash in on the player, who has been receiving several interests from clubs across Europe including the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool.
Reports also suggest that Pochettino sees Mount as part of his plans, and wants the player to stay, but the player is looking for new challenges and from the club’s business point of view, they should part ways with their academy graduate.
The player also hasn’t had a good season as he managed just three goals and six assists in 35 appearances for the club, a significant drop from the previous season where he scored 13 goals and had 16 assists.
#2 Christian Pulisic
Christian Pulisic could have already played his last game for Chelsea
Christian Pulisic is another player Chelsea must certainly sell this summer, the USMNT star has had a forgettable season scoring just once and providing two assists in 30 appearances for the team this season, and that is below standards for someone at Chelsea.
His lacklustre contributions in the final third have been evident and the player often appeared lost and struggled with his decision-making. To add to that, for a player known for his good finishing, the 24-year-old failed to convert scoring opportunities into goals.
Pulisic’s impact this season has been far from satisfactory and with the player just having one year left in his contract, it is the best time for Chelsea to cash in on their player and lower their weekly wage bill.
#1 Kalidou Koulibaly
Chelsea was trying to sign Kalidou Koulibaly for a few seasons and things finally materialized last season with the player joining the Blues but the defender has failed to live up to his hefty price tag and become a regular benchwarmer.
And now in just one season, the club might want to consider selling the player, as his heavy wage price is too heavy for a player to just sit on the bench. The club also have other resources in the same position who will want regular first-team football and the club will need to make a decision between Koulibaly and alternative options.
However, for Chelsea, it will not be easy as reports suggest that the player isn’t keen on leaving the club and it certainly will be a task for the Blues to offload such a high earner as not several clubs will be interested in matching the player’s asking price.
It will be interesting to see if the West London-based outfit can find a suitor, and the club should do what it can to find a way out, including selling the player for a small fee.