Chelsea’s huge transfer clearout means just THREE of their 2021 Champions League winners could be left next season

INCREDIBLY just THREE of Chelsea’s Champions League winners from 2021 could remain at the club next season.

The Blues famously beat Manchester City 1-0 in Lisbon to lift the iconic trophy for the second time.

But little more than a year later, the manager for that memorable night, Thomas Tuchel, was harshly sacked.

And now barely any of the Kings of Europe heroes are left either in a dramatic two years for Chelsea.

Todd Boehly bought the club in May 2022 and continues to oversee a major overhaul of the playing squad – splashing out more than £600million on transfers last season.

But with the waves of new players coming in, plenty of others have passed through the Stamford Bridge exit door – or could be about to as part of the clearout of the bloated squad and to avoid FFP breaches.

Edouard Mendy started in goal in the final but is on the brink of joining Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia.

Of the three centre-backs, Antonio Rudiger was released and joined Real Madrid last year while Cesar Azpilicueta is a transfer target for Tuchel’s Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.

Thiago Silva is staying put for at least 12 more months at Chelsea while wing-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell remain key cogs.

The entire midfield and attack, though, have either been sold or look set to move on.

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Jorginho signed for Arsenal in January while his midfield partner from that night, N’Golo Kante, secured a free transfer to Al-Ittihad that will see him get paid a whopping £86m.

Timo Werner returned to RB Leipzig last summer while matchwinner Kai Havertz is strongly linked with following Jorginho to the Emirates for £65m after agreeing personal terms.

Mason Mount, meanwhile, has rejected all contract extensions and could be about to head to Manchester United.

Amazingly, 11 of the 12 subs could also be playing their football away from Stamford Bridge in 2023-24.

Willy Caballero, Marcos Alonso, Andreas Christensen, Kurt Zouma, Emerson, Billy Gilmour and Olivier Giroud have all already left.

Mateo Kovacic is close to completing his switch to Manchester City while Hakim Ziyech is another man heading to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr.

Callum Hudson-Odoi was loaned out last year and could be targeted by a Saudi outfit, too, while Christian Pulisic is surplus to requirements and will likely move on.

That leaves Kepa Arrizabalaga as the only substitute seemingly with a future at Chelsea after winning his place between the sticks back from Mendy – although even he is not guaranteed to stay if Boehly signs another goalkeeper.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk