
Chelsea exodus: Four first-XI starters to be sold imminently – sources
Chelsea will sell at least four first-team stars this summer as they look to balance the books with financial issues looming.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that Conor Gallagher, 24, Trevoh Chalobah, 24, Ian Maatsen, 22, and Armando Broja, 22, will be up for sale in the transfer window.
Mauricio Pochettino saw Gallagher and Chalobah as key players, but following his dismissal, and with Chelsea’s financial issues, they will now listen to offers for the homegrown stars.
Maatsen and Broja have spent the second half of the season out on loan at Dortmund and Fulham respectively, with the former expected to remain at his loan club.
Meanwhile, there is interest in Broja from elsewhere after a disappointing spell at Craven Cottage.
This comes after Football Insider revealed that Gallagher was attracting interest from Newcastle, although he is not keen on a move to the North East.
Chelsea put four first-team stars up for sale
Selling both Gallagher and Chalobah this summer would see the Blues make pure profit on two academy graduates, with the money going directly towards their accounts to avoid punishment under profit and sustainability rules.
After Everton and Nottingham Forest received points deductions in the Premier League, Chelsea are keen to avoid a similar fate.
Football Insider reported that they are willing to sell real estate assets in an attempt to balance the books after finding a loophole as they sold two hotels outside Stamford Bridge for approximately £77million.
However, given the backlash surrounding the previous deal, player sales will be the focus at Stamford Bridge with homegrown talent at the top of the list of possible exits.

Gallagher and Chalobah made a combined 67 appearances last season, but the owners have deemed them sellable assets.
Maatsen is keen to remain at Dortmund after reaching the Champions League final, while Broja’s latest loan move has been a disappointment, with a permanent exit now more likely.
In other news, the search for a new manager at Chelsea is now a two-horse race.
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