Chelsea could make £150m from January sales – and would only need to buy a left back | OneFootball

Chelsea’s January is really taking shape, and that shape is a big “exit” sign.

This time two years ago, we were buying a preposterous number of players. Every vague link became reality. Now we’ve reached the consequences of a few years of intense spending.

In the last couple of days we’ve had really intense speculation and links connecting a number of first team players with departures.

Axel Disasi, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Cesare Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka and Renato Veiga have all played first team minutes this season, and all have very strong links connecting them with moves elsewhere this month. Then there are those like Ben Chilwell, who has no immediate suitors but whom the club are keen to get rid of.

We can’t see them ALL going, but it’s by no means impossible. Just as we predicted, the prospect of far fewer cup games in this second part of this season means a slimming down of the squad is necessary. Those who have just about been kept happy by Conference League and domestic cup minutes so far will start to become uneasy now there aren’t as many of them to go around – and presumably there will also gradually be a ramping up of first XI involvement in those competitions as we get to the knockout stages.

Chelsea could be up £150m if slew of sales go through

Chelsea squad on pre-season flight.

Say Chelsea do manage to shift all those players on permanent deals. They would be looking at something in the ball-park of £150m in transfer fees coming in, plus a huge saving on wages.

KDH, Casadei and Chukwuemeka can all go without hurting our depth much. We would be left without a backup left back which would be a priority to sign this month, and a third choice right back (which matters quite a lot when Reece James is your first choice). If Josh Acheampong has impressed Maresca as much as it seems, perhaps that’s not an issue either.

A central midfielder would help the squad a lot – but with Andrey Santos on the books, maybe a recall makes more sense than a purchase.

We could really be left with a big wedge of cash with only left back as a pressing need.