Chelsea transfer news: Kalidou Koulibaly only joined the Blues in the summer from Napoli but he has already been linked with a return to the Serie A
Kalidou Koulibaly has been linked with a move to Juventus after only a year with Chelsea (Image: Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s transfer business in the last two windows have left Todd Boehly with an unwanted problem to deal with. The Blues squad is filled with world class players wanting to start every week, but there are too many to handle.
16 players have been signed since Clearlake Capital completed their £4.25billion takeover of the football club last year. The management of the squad – totalling 33 players – has proved to be an ongoing predicament for Graham Potter and now Frank Lampard, with changes made to the starting XI on a regular basis.
The array of changes has prompted speculation, which has started linking players with a move out of Stamford Bridge at the end of the season. It’s understood that the club are keen to trim their squad to make the next permanent manager’s job to be easier.
According to the Evening Standard, at least eight players look to be sold with a number of them instructing their agents to find alternative destinations. Mason Mount is one player who looks set to leave amid uncertainty with his contract, with the report also claiming Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Conor Gallagher, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (signed for £10m), Kalidou Koulibaly (£33m), Hakim Ziyech (£33.3m), Christian Pulisic (£57.6m) and Edouard Mendy (£22m) could all be sold.
Reports from Italy also suggest Kalidou Koulibaly’s short-lived spell in west London could come to an end with Juventus considering an approach for the defender. The Senegal international only joined the Blues in the summer from Napoli but has struggled to fully adapt to English football.
Gazzetta dello Sport have insisted that the Turin side are weighing up a move for Koulibaly after missing out on his signature last summer. Juventus have recently had their points deduction overturned meaning they are on course to qualify for the Champions League next season.
With Chelsea very unlikely to seal a top four finish this season, Koulibaly may opt to make a return to Italy in a bid to feature in Europe’s premier tournament. The centre-back has three years left on his deal at Stamford Bridge, but could be allowed to leave with Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile likely to lead the Blues defence next season.
Source: football.london
