Conor Gallagher is on the verge of completing a move to Atletico Madrid and Chelsea are now reportedly planning to sell another two academy graduates this summer.
Gallagher joined the Blues at the age of eight and wore the captain's armband for the majority of last season in the absence of Reece James.
Los Colchoneros are believed to have agreed a £33m deal with Chelsea for the 24-year-old, who is set to become the latest in a slew of academy stars to be sold by the club over the last few years.
Some of the most recent academy players to be moved on by the Blues were Mason Mount to Manchester United last season, and Lewis Hall, who joined Newcastle United this summer.
The sale of homegrown players is recorded as pure profit on a club's books, and several Premier League sides view their academy graduates as a major source of revenue to help mitigate financial losses and maintain PSR compliance.
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Chalobah and Broja to follow Gallagher out of Stamford Bridge?
Chelsea have already splashed out more than £1bn on new player acquisitions since their May 2022 takeover, including over £100m this summer.
According to Football Insider, the Blues are looking to balance their books by selling another two academy stars this summer in Trevoh Chalobah and Armando Broja.
The report adds the club have informed Chalobah and Broja that they are open to listening to offers for them in this transfer window.
Having been deemed surplus to requirements under new boss Enzo Maresca, it is understood that both players are now looking for moves away from Stamford Bridge by the August 31 deadline.
Chalobah was left out of Maresca's US pre-season touring squad and is reportedly on the radar of Fulham, while Broja is being linked with a return to Southampton.
The Albanian spent a season-long loan at St Mary's Stadium in 2021-22, featuring in 34 matches for the Saints, scoring eight goals in that time.
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Maresca claims PL rules are affecting academy player's progress
While selling players who grew up supporting the club is not often popular with fans, the new Blues boss insists that their hands are tied and that the Premier League's spending rules are negatively impacting the progress of academy players.
Ahead of the final match of their US tour against Real Madrid, Maresca said: "The clubs are compelled to sell [homegrown] players because of the rules.
"It's not a Chelsea problem, it is a Premier League problem. The intention of the club is not to sell players from the academy. But it is the rules.
"It is a shame. Totti was with Roma for 20 years. He was a one-club man. I love that in football. But because of the rules, now it is different. Do we need to change the rules to protect academy players? Probably yes."
Maresca also weighed in on reports that Gallagher was informed that he would be a 'squad player' rather than a regular starter by saying: "Not one of them is going to be a regular starter. If I say one will be a regular starter, it is a lack of respect for the rest.
"I consider all of them squad players, then day by day, they work and some will play, and some not."
Devesh Jaganath
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