CHELSEA reportedly want to get rid of NINE of their players in a major squad overhaul ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
The Blues are eager to improve on their fourth-placed finish in the league last season, and want to bring in some fresh faces to do so, according to The Express.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have identified strikers Erik Haaland and Romelu Lukaku as their main transfer targets this summer.
Borussia Dortmund hot-shot Haaland will set the Blues back £150million, while it’s been reported they’ve already launched a £111m bid for want-away Inter Milan hit-man Lukaku.
They also want Sevilla defender Jules Kounde, and need to balance the books by off-loading some star names.
Those facing the axe are Tammy Abraham, Kepa Arizabalaga, Emerson Palmeri, Fikayo Tomori, Ross Barkley, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Michy Batshuayi, the Express claim.
They also reported that the Blues have put both Italian Euro 2020 winner Jorginho and German defender Antonio Rudiger up for sale.
Although it’s unlikely to club will get rid of the pair, they could be left no choice as both the stars are in their last year of their contracts.
Jorginho’s agent Joao Santos has made it clear that his client would like to remain in West London, but if the club don’t present the right offer they’d be forced to look elsewehere.
While speaking to Calciomercato in July, Santos revealed: “He has a two-year contract, and it’s all in the hands of the club.”
He also admitted that it’s a possibility the midfielder who joined the Blues from Napoli in 2018, could return to the Serie A one day with a host of clubs including Juventus interested in him.
Santos added: “I confirm it, these interests have arrived.
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“Of course, at 29 he can do very well in all the top European clubs and many are interested in him.”
And Rudiger is reportedly waiting for Chelsea to offer a better deal before he commits his future to the club.
If the Blues fail to meet his demands, the centre-back is considering leaving the Bridge when his contract ends next summer on a free transfer.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
