Chelsea ‘have got to’ thin numbers, as pundit urges sales starting with fitting Man Utd move

Frank McAvennie has detailed how Chelsea “have got to” thin their squad, as there is “no togetherness”, and he feels Mateo Kovacic to Manchester United would be a good move.

Chelsea’s season started poorly, and is ending poorly. Indeed, the Blues lost two of their first five games, and by September, Thomas Tuchel was no longer the manager.

Graham Potter lasted no longer than six months, as while he started well, results also faltered during his tenure.

Neither manager has been helped by the swelling of the squad. Indeed, in the last two transfer windows, 16 players have walked through the door at Stamford Bridge.

Of course, that has meant some good players have arrived. The likes of World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez and Mykhaylo Mudryk certainly have promise; Raheem Sterling has won four Champions League trophies.

However, that many new players at once has proven too much. Indeed, it’s seemed difficult for any manager to understand which players their best side consists of.

And with the side rarely the same as it was as far back as a few weeks prior because of that, the players have failed to gel together.

Chelsea are currently 12th in the league, and the season has been written of for some time. They’ll hope for a better campaign next season, but things seemingly need to change before that can happen.

Chelsea ‘have got to’ get numbers down

It’s been suggested recently that Chelsea are ‘in a race’ to sell players before 30th June. That’s because beyond that point, sales would count towards the books for 2023/24, not 2022/23.

Given there are some concerns over Financial FairPlay for this year after a lot of inbound transfers, it seems the Blues will need to get a move on.

McAvennie believes the Stamford Bridge outfit need to cull players for footballing reasons, too.

“You can’t have 40 people in your dressing room, they had to knock a wall down, that is not right. There is no harmony, there is no togetherness, no bonding. It is too big,” he told Football Insider.

“You have got to get that down to 25. They have got to get that sorted.”

Kovacic to Man Utd a fitting move

To kick that off, McAvennie feels midfielder Kovacic moving to Manchester United – who are reportedly willing to pay £30million for him – would be a fitting move.

“I could see Kovacic going to Man United. He is a decent player, I think he would do well there,” he said.

McAvennie also does not feel Chelsea would mind that they’d be selling to another big side.

“I do not think there will be any problems,” he added.

Indeed, if it saves them from punishment regarding FFP, and helps them to build with a smaller squad, the Blues might not mind much at all if Kovacic is to leave for United.

READ MORE: Arsenal surge clear of Chelsea for part one of £170m double deal thanks to Arteta brilliance