The EIGHT players Chelsea will clear out this summer

Tom Hancock

• Updated: 29 Mar 2023 10:06 BST
• 3 min read

Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic are among eight senior players Chelsea could offload as part of an extensive summer clear-out.

The Blues’ squad swelled in size as they splashed the cash in January, making a host of new first-team signings – among them Mykhailo Mudryk and Enzo Fernandez, whose €121m move from Benfica broke the British transfer record.

Such an influx of talent was always likely to mean a wave of departures this off-season – and the Evening Standard are reporting that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy could also leave Stamford Bridge.

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Mount, Kovacic, Aubameyang, Loftus-Cheek and Pulisic are due to become free agents at the end of next season; Gallagher, Ziyech and Mendy have deals which run until 2025.

And there already appears to be interest in two of the Blues’ seemingly surplus midfield stars: Mount has been linked with Liverpool and Manchester United, while Manchester City and Bayern Munich – now managed by former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel – are said to be keeping tabs on Kovacic.

Ziyech was set to join PSG on loan in January, but that switch fell through as Chelsea failed to submit the correct paperwork three times.

Limited opportunities for big names

Meanwhile, Aubameyang was rumoured to be heading to MLS outfit LAFC on loan during the winter transfer window, but the veteran striker has stayed put to fight for his Blues place – only to make just five substitute appearances this calendar year.

Loftus-Cheek has remained a regular for Graham Potter’s side, but Gallagher has not started since the arrival of Fernandez.

As for Mendy, Chelsea seem to have reached an impasse in discussions over a new deal for the goalkeeper – who lost his place as number one to Kepa Arrizabalga back in September.