Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino ‘scrambling to sell three outcasts including £35m-rated star he hasn’t SPOKEN to’
MAURICIO POCHETTINO wants to axe THREE more Chelsea stars before the end of the transfer window, according to reports.
The Argentine head coach, 51, has overseen huge change during the summer with 19 PLAYERS leaving the club – either on permanent or loan deals.
However, Chelsea have also brought in eight new faces for around £400million.
It means Pochettino still has inflated squad with the transfer window set to close on September 1.
Chelsea’s squad consists of 32 players despite the mass exodus.
And the Evening Standard are reporting that Romelu Lukaku, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Malang Sarr are the main three men Pochettino wants to get rid of over the next nine days.
The trio have been outcast from the rest of the squad as they do not have numbers and are training with the U21s.
Lukaku, who re-joined Chelsea from Inter Milan for £97.5m in 2021, is still the club’s highest earner at £325,000.
The Blues will only accept a transfer fee for the striker – with a loan deal off the table.
Juventus are interested in signing the Belgian, 30, for £35m but will only offer the sum if they can sell Dusan Vlahovic for £50m.
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK
A part-swap deal – Lukaku for Vlahovic – was dismissed by Chelsea due to the Serbian’s wages and injury issues.
Saudi Arabian interest in Lukaku has cooled after Al-Hilal signed Aleksandar Mitrovic from Fulham.
Tottenham have been linked with a move for the ex-Manchester United forward, but it is unclear whether the Blues will sell to a Premier League rival.
Meanwhile, Hudson-Odoi‘s move to Fulham seems to have collapsed.
And Sarr, 24, is struggling to attract suitors due to the £100,000-a-week wage packet he is receiving at Stamford Bridge.