Boehly to show a ‘dozen’ players Chelsea exit door with major summer signing ‘not performing’ as expected

TEAMtalk can reveal that Chelsea are ready to seriously streamline their squad this summer with Todd Boehly ready to crack the whip and show around a dozen players the Stamford Bridge exit door.

The American took over the Chelsea stewardship from the hugely-successful Roman Abramovich last summer. For years under the Russian’s reign, Chelsea were taunted that their days of lavish spending would end the day he walked away.

However, Abramovich remained committed to the Blues to the last, only selling up once sanctions from the British Government were imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

But rather than hide among the shadows, Boehly has stepped into the Bridge hotseat with all guns blazing. And his staggering investment into the Chelsea playing squad has caused a major ripple in the world game.

Indeed, 17 new players have come through the doors since Boehly’s takeover. That tally includes nine players over the summer and a further eight during January.

And with Enzo Fernandez shattering the British transfer record, the Blues are already making plans to break that fee this summer with a move for a big-name striker on their radar.

However, players will have to leave due to the sheer amount of numbers in their squad.

And with some players nearing the end of their deals, some – such as N’Golo Kante, although not yet confirmed – are likely to leave.

Others will also be sold off, and Thursday’s Transfer Gossip discussed the ‘unthinkable’ sale of one such star to Liverpool.

Chelsea planning for big summer exodus – with Koulibaly to lead the way

Discussing their likely departures, our transfer expert Graeme Bailey expects a number of players to be shown the door.

And he has revealed that major summer signing Kalidou Koulibaly will find himself the headline departure.

Bailey told TEAMtalk: “Yes there is going to be lots of incomings again at Chelsea this summer, we know that – but the exits are going to be as fascinating.

“There could easily be up to a dozen players leave, depending on who else arrives.

“One of the big names is set to be Kalidou Koulibaly – the Senegalese star was one of the first signings of the Todd Boehly-Clearwater era, and most in football saw it as a nailed on solid signing, there were not many in football pushing back on his £30m arrival from Napoli.

“For years Koulibaly had been linked with a move to England, he appeared well set to make it in the Premier League.

“But the soon to be 32-year-old has not settled into life in West London – he has not performed, Chelsea have not performed – it has not been good.

“Now a summer move is very much on the cards, and a move back to Italy is the most likely option. Koulibaly is still held in huge regard in Serie A.

“One team to watch is Inter Milan – in need of reinforcements with Milan Skriniar leaving on a free transfer he is a player they have always liked.”

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