Chelsea could allow as many as 12 players to leave this summer as they seek to reduce their wage bill and trim their squad, according to a report.
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Chelsea could face mass exodus12 players could depart BluesMaresca draws with Wrexham in first gameWHAT HAPPENED?
report that the Blues want to offload a huge bulk of deadwood that they could not shift last year who are returning from various loans. Romelu Lukaku is the Blues' highest earner and the they have been unsuccessfully attempting to shift the striker for the past two summers.
Kepa Arrizabalaga has also returned from a loan spent largely on the Real Madrid bench and David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja and Cesare Casadei are also back at the club but look set to depart.
Other players potentially up for sale include homegrown talents Trevor Chalobah and Conor Gallagher as well as other first-team regulars Ben Chilwell and Djordje Petrovic. Out-of-favour centre-half Malang Sarr has already had his lucrative contract cancelled to allow him to move to RC Lens.
Young prospects Alfie Gilchrist, Andrey Santos and Lesley Ugochukwu could head out on loan.
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Chelsea have got to sell before they can buy many more players. They have already added Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City, Omari Kellyman from Aston Villa, Renato Veiga from FC Basel, Caleb Wiley from Atlanta, Marc Guiu from Barcelona and Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham so far this window. They are also linked with moves for Villarreal goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, Boca Juniors' Aaron Anselmino and Athletic Club's Nico Williams. It is once again a busy summer at Stamford Bridge.
DID YOU KNOW?
Following the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca has been entrusted with guiding Chelsea back into the Champions League and into title challenges. The Italian led Leicester straight back to the Premier League at first time of asking as champions, but Chelsea will offer different challenges for the Italian.
David Gonzales-USA TODAY SportsWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?
Maresca had his first look at his Chelsea squad as they drew 2-2 with Wrexham in a hot-headed affair. The new Blues boss will look to secure the first win of his tenure against Celtic on Saturday in Indiana as they continue their pre-season tour of the US.