3 down, 7 to go – update on Chelsea’s biggest summer challenge | OneFootball

6 weeks ago we wrote about the BBC’s report on Chelsea’s attempts to sell 10 players.

So how are the Blues getting on with that mighty task?

Chelsea making slow progress through outgoing list

Sky Sports discuss Chelsea’s squad depth.

Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Djordje Petrovic, Armando Broja, Joao Felix, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka and Lesley Ugochukwu were all “available for sale”, as the sporting directors looks to trim down their squad.

From that group, both Kepa and Petrovic have gone, one to Arsenal and the other to Bournemouth, clearing up the goalkeeper situation significantly. The only outfielder to go is Joao Felix, who has gone for a miracle potential £50m deal to Saudi Arabia.

There have been sales of players who weren’t on that list – like Noni Madueke, Mathis Amougou and Ishe Samuels-Smith. But really the focus now has to be on the 7 left to move on.

There’s been plenty of interest in Veiga, although without any concrete bids yet it seems.

Chukwuemeka and Broja get the occasional whisper. We’ve heard almost nothing about Disasi, Chilwell, Ugochukwu and Sterling though.

Chelsea face tough battles to shed highest paid stars

In all these cases permanent sales are preferred, but as we’ve seen in previous years, if we reach late August and these guys are still kicking around in the bomb squad, our position weakens a little.

Ugochukwu and Disasi could potentially increase their value with a good loan. In the case of Chilwell and Sterling, it’s just a case of finding someone to split their wages with until their deals run out.

In any case, given we’re not yet into August, there’s still plenty of time to polish off all 7 of these deals and have the squad looking trim and ready with plenty of cash in the bank to keep everyone happy.