CHELSEA could be set to scrap a number of established first-team stars after having their transfer ban overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Club chiefs may elect to clear the decks in order to sanction a flurry of high-profile signings, having been unable to bring anyone in over the summer.
Pedro, Giroud and Alonso could be among the casualties at Stamford Bridge
The Blues are fourth in the Premier League table and could solidify their place in the Champions League spots with reinforcements.
Frank Lampard’s side have been linked with the likes of Ben Chilwell, Jadon Sancho and Benoit Badiashile.
SunSport examines who could make way for fresh talent at Stamford Bridge.
OLIVIER GIROUD
SunSport exclusively revealed that Giroud’s hopes of leaving Chelsea in January have been harmed by potential suitors being unwilling to pay a fee for the Frenchman.
The World Cup winner is out of contract in the summer, and will be available on a free transfer in the summer.
Giroud will be desperate for more playing time ahead of what could be his last international tournament at Euro 2020.
But the Frenchman may have to stick around on the bench at Stamford Bridge, having had his game time radically reduced by the sensational form of academy star Tammy Abraham.
Giroud has hardly featured under Frank LampardCredit: Getty – Contributor
ONLY £150MILLION, ROMAN?
CHELSEA are set to spend around £150million in January having been unable to bring in any new players in the summer while under a transfer ban.
Now their embargo has been lifted, Roman Abramovich is set to hand Frank Lampard a monster winter budget.
But is £150m really that much?
After all, last season the Blues raked in £142.6m from prize money, TV income and league matches, amongst other factors.
Should they managed to qualify for next season’s Champions League that could see a windfall of around £100m.
Chelsea also made up to £150m from selling Eden Hazard to Real Madrid – with £88m up front and the rest coming in add-ons.
During the summer window – with the West Londoners spending absolutely nothing – the rest of the league averaged a spend of around £67m apiece. Aston Villa spent £146m over the summer.
So is £150m really that much to make up for missing a summer window as well as the usual winter spending? Only time will tell…
PEDRO
The Spaniard is one of the most decorated trophy winners of all time, having won 23 major honours at club level, as well as the World Cup and European Championships with Spain.
But the tricky winger, now in his thirties, has hardly featured under Frank Lampard this season.
An Achilles tendon rupture has disrupted his season, but Pedro had already been dropped from Chelsea’s starting XI.
And now with the emergence of Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi, as well as the possible arrival of Jadon Sancho, Pedro has been even more marginalised at Stamford Bridge.
Marcos Alonso’s performance levels have dipped alarminglyCredit: Reuters
MARCOS ALONSO
Another Spanish international, Alonso was a key figure when Chelsea won the league under Antonio Conte back in 2017.
His direct runs from left wing-back and pinpoint accuracy with his left foot made him an integral member of that title-winning team.
But particularly since being asked to play deeper as a left back in a back four, the 28-year-old has become a liability.
And with the club seemingly not content with him or Emerson Palmieri, Chelsea look likely to push hard for the signature of Leicester’s Ben Chilwell.
WILLIAN
The Brazilian has been a fantastic servant for Chelsea since being signed by Jose Mourinho back in 2013.
The winner of two league titles with the club, Willian has emerged again as an excellent performer this season.
But the 31-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season, and talks appear to have reached a stalemate – despite Lampard being keen on keeping him.
He has persistently been linked with a move to Barcelona.
Chelsea winger Willian is baptised in River Jordan
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
