7 Players set to leave Chelsea after victory over Watford in season finale
Chelsea beat Watford at Stamford Bridge on Sunday to cap off an eventful season.
Thomas Tuchel’s side finished third in the league, having placed second in both domestic cups, and will be happy with their efforts given the circumstances surrounding their season.
The club was unable to sell tickets for their final home games due to the sanctions imposed on former owner Roman Abramovich, and there was also little hope of persuading players whose contracts were about to expire to renew them.
This summer, though, promises to be exciting, with some players expected to depart and a lot of new faces expected to arrive.
Tuchel himself stated in his post-match interview on Sunday that he has no time for a break because there is “too much to do,” referring to Todd Boehly’s impending purchase of the club.
Below, we look at the players who may leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
Antonio Rudiger: One of the players certain to depart Chelsea this summer is Antonio Rudiger. The German defender’s move to Real Madrid is all-but-confirmed, and he gave a departing interview to the club’s media after the final whistle on Saturday. Rudiger played more minutes than any other outfield player for the Blues this term, and it won’t be easy to replace the 29-year-old.
Andreas Christensen: Another player who has already agreed a move away from the club is Andreas Christensen, who is believed to have agreed terms with Barcelona. The Dane has struggled to maintain a starting spot throughout his ten years in west London, but established himself as a regular over the past 18 months and impressed on Chelsea’s run to Champions League glory last season.
Marcos Alonso: Another player partaking in the Blues’ mass exodus of defenders could be Marcos Alonso, who has reportedly decided he wants to leave the club. Barcelona are rumoured to be interested in the 31-year-old, and the player is keen on the idea. The Spaniard has divided fans with his performances ever since arriving in 2016, but if he does seal a move away he will leave having won six trophies including the Champions League and Premier League.
Cesar Azpilicueta: Club captain Cesar Azpilicueta would certainly raise a few eyebrows if he were to depart Stamford Bridge after ten years with the club, especially considering that a 12-month extension to his deal was triggered last month. The Spaniard is reportedly also a target for Barcelona, though, who could line up next season with a back four that includes three of Chelsea’s current backline. Azpilicueta has made more than 475 appearances for the Blues, and has won every trophy available to him.
Jorginho: Italian midfielder Jorginho could be on his way out of Chelsea this summer. The 30-year-old arrived during the same summer that Maurizio Sarri was appointed as Blues boss, and could reportedly be on his way back to Italy to reunite with his former boss, who now manages Lazio.
Ross Barkley: Ex-Everton man Ross Barkley scored his first goal of the season to give Chelsea victory over Watford on Sunday, in what was his 100th appearance for the club. It seems unlikely that he will remain a Chelsea player next season, though, having played just 175 minutes of top flight football so far this term.
Romelu Lukaku: Arguably Tuchel’s biggest dilemma this summer will be what to do with Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian cost Chelsea almost £100 million when he returned to the club last summer, but has scored just eight Premier League goals all season. The striker also did an infamous interview with Italian media, during which he criticised Tuchel’s style and hinted that he wanted to return to Italy, which didn’t go down well with the club’s fans. Chelsea’s main issue with offloading Lukaku will be finding a club that are willing to meet his wage demands, and it appears almost certain that they will have to sell the player for a significant loss if they are to let him go.
With Boehly’s takeover of the club set to be confirmed in the coming days, Chelsea can then look to buy and sell players. By that time, the likes of Rudiger and Christensen may already have left the club, and Tuchel will undoubtedly waste no time in sourcing replacements for the pair. Tuchel will also be looking for reinforcements in both wing-back positions, with injuries to Ben Chilwell and Reece James highlighting their lack of depth and derailing their season earlier this year.