Mauricio Pochettino is expected to become the new head coach at Stamford Bridge and will be tasked with helping oversee a major overhaul of the squad in his first months in charge. Chelsea have spent over £600million since the club’s takeover last year and must now cut down their bloated squad with a number of players facing uncertain futures, including their own homegrown stars. Among those is Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who is reluctant to leave his boyhood club and would have to be forced out by the new Blues manager this summer. Milan are among the clubs interested in his services and hope to convince him to join former Chelsea teammate Fikayo Tomori at the club. His salary, thought to be £150,000-a-week, is thought to be a major stumbling block with the midfielder needing to take a pay cut to facilitate a move to San Siro.
Chelsea are under pressure to comply with Uefa’s new financial sustainability rules but cashing in on their homegrown stars will play a huge role in keeping them in line. Mason Mount will be sold unless there is a late breakthrough in attempts to get him to sign a new contract with his current deal also set to expire in 2024. Conor Gallagher, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Trevoh Chalobah could also be sold as part of the clear-out. Levi Colwill, currently on loan at Brighton has attracted interest from a number of Premier League sides but reports suggest he will be part of the Chelsea first-team squad next season. Mateo Kovacic, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly will also be made available. Pochettino has reportedly already given his verdict on a number of those players who are at risk of being sold.