[Sport] From Willian to Alonso: Chelsea's potential summer sales revealed

[The GodFather]

 

 

 

The exact dates for the opening of the English transfer window have yet to be announced, but that has not stopped Chelsea from moving quickly to get ahead of their rivals in the market.

Having already agreed the £37 million ($43m) acquisition of Ajax winger Hakim Ziyech in February, the Blues are closing in on a second big-money signing since their transfer ban was lifted in the shape of Timo Werner.

The RB Leipzig forward is expected to complete his £54m ($68m) move to Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks, and the Blues are not finished there, with both Leicester City full-back Ben Chilwell and Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Kai Havertz on Frank Lampard's radar.

All those incomings, though, mean there must be outgoings too as Lampard looks to avoid his young squad from becoming too bloated despite the prospect of another season in the Champions League.

As such, Goal has run the rule over the current Chelsea roster in an attempt to predict which players will have departed by the time the 2020-21 campaign rolls around...

Untouchable
 

Chelsea have moved to secure a number of their talented young players to long-term contracts, with it hoped that those who have broken into the first team over the past two seasons will form the backbone of the side for years to come.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Billy Gilmour, Reece James and Fikayo Tomori have all put pen to paper on fresh terms over the past 12 months and are set for key roles under Lampard.

 

In terms of the more senior players in Chelsea's squad, there have been questions over the suitability and fitness of World Cup-winning midfielder N'Golo Kante, but Lampard is backing the former Leicester man to come back strongly from a stop-start campaign.

Kante's fellow midfielder Mateo Kovacic has been one of the club's star performers this term and is happy in west London. It is highly likely that Jorginho will be retained despite interest from Juventus.

 

Further forward, Christian Pulisic will be given more time to impress during his second full season in England while Olivier Giroud has been tied down after signing a one-year contract extension.

In defence, club captain Cesar Azpilicueta is going nowhere after an impressive first season in the leadership role while Kepa Arrizabalaga will retain his place in goal despite the club exploring the option of selling the Spain international earlier in the season.

He will be supported by back-up Willy Caballero, who recently signed a new one-year deal.

Uncertain
 

Chelsea have moved quickly to tie down their recent academy graduates to fresh contracts, but agreeing terms with one such player has not yet been achieved.

Tammy Abraham will enter the final two years of his current deal in July, and despite ongoing talks a resolution regarding his long-term future is yet to be found.