Transfer Centre

Chelsea 'looking to sell four more first-team players this summer'

By Carter White | 12 July 2023

Chelsea are reportedly hopeful of offloading Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi before beginning their pre-season tour.

Chelsea are reportedly looking to sell four more first-team players before the squad begins their pre-season tour next week under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

The former Tottenham Hotspur boss inherited a packed-out dressing room when he arrived at Stamford Bridge following the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, and the West Londoners have already made massive efforts to reduce their numbers of playing staff.

Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and N'Golo Kante have all secured moves to the Saudi Pro League, linking up with Al-Ahli, Al-Hilal and Al Ittihad respectively.

The Blues have seen a few of their academy graduates leave the club permanently, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek joining AC Milan and Mason Mount moving to Manchester United for £55m plus add-ons.

Chelsea's Mason Mount looks dejected after the match on April 18, 2023 © Reuters

The blue side of Manchester have also benefited from a huge sale of stars at Chelsea this summer, with Champions League-winning midfielder Mateo Kovacic making the switch to the Etihad as Pep Guardiola looks to replace Ilkay Gundogan in his engine room.

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea want a further four first-team players out of the door before they commence their pre-season tour next week.

It is understood that the quartet of players include Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi, with any money from the sale of the latter set to be calculated as pure profit, helping ease the Blues' financial fair play struggles.

The 22-year-old spent the 2022-23 term on loan at German outfit Bayer Leverkusen, however the winger failed to make a decent impression in the Bundesliga, starting just seven league games and failing to make the net ripple.

Callum Hudson-Odoi in action for Bayer Leverkusen on September 7, 2022 © Reuters

Moroccan attacker Ziyech was set to follow the likes of Kante and Mendy to the riches of Saudi Arabia, although a failed medical meant that a pending move to Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr was scrapped.

Lukaku was loaned out to Inter Milan last term and helped the Nerazzurri reach the final of the Champions League, however the Belgian missed vital chances in the showpiece match against Manchester City which could have seen the Italians win their first European crown since 2010.

A separate report by Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has claimed that the Serie A giants are preparing a new offer of around £29m for the former Manchester United forward, with the player said to be favouring a move to Inter despite interest from Saudi Arabia.

Chelsea commence their pre-season campaign against League Two side Wrexham in the USA, with all focus on the West Londoners' Premier League opener against Liverpool on August 13.