Chelsea set for ANOTHER academy sale as rivals line up transfer

20 Jun 2024 20:00 BST
3 min read

Chelsea will continue their manoeuvring around the transfer market by looking to cash in on another academy graduate this summer.

The Blues are operating under tight constraints after spending more than €1 billion on players ever since the arrival of Todd Boehly two years ago.

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This summer is expected to be more reserved than the previous years, which have seen Chelsea repeatedly break their transfer record, and the club are required to sell players before being able to spend significantly.

Academy graduates represent pure profit on the books for Chelsea, which has led to speculation over the future of Conor Gallagher, despite his importance last season, while Ian Maatsen is in talks over a €45m transfer to Aston Villa.

And Chelsea could now face interest in Trevoh Chalobah, with Fulham being the latest side to consider a move for the defender, who has been at Stamford Bridge since the age of eight.

The Standard claim that Fulham are looking at Chalobah in a £25m (€29.5m) deal as a replacement for Tosin Adarabioyo, who moved the other direction this summer, joining Chelsea on a free transfer after his contract at Craven Cottage expired.

© IMAGO - Trevoh Chalobah could be sold this summer.

Chelsea sales could open up pathway to striker

A sale for Chalobah and Maatsen would help Chelsea in their pursuit for their top targets this summer, with Jhon Duran lined up as the club’s priority striker signing.

Fabrizio Romano had previously revealed that any move for Duran would hinge on whether players could be included in the deal, which may lead to Maatsen’s transfer proving to be part of a bigger deal for the striker.

Gallagher was one of the players Villa were thought to be interested in, however Chelsea are understood to have placed a price tag of €50m on the England international despite him entering the final year of his contract.

A stumbling block for Chelsea could be the reluctance of their graduates to leave, with Chalobah and Gallagher said to be ready to fight for their futures, having impressed as part of Mauricio Pochettino’s side last season.

Chalobah has four years remaining on his contract and the 24-year-old could end up resisting any offers made to him, with Manchester United also reportedly monitoring his situation.