Chelsea hatch 7-player fire sale plan to avoid £52m UEFA fine as spending continues

Chelsea are still looking to improve their squad as the start of the new season closes in and the Blues prepare to kick off their pre-season training on August 4. It has been a strange summer for Chelsea, who won the FIFA Club World Cup. but the competition meant their pre-season had to be arranged very differently.

Enzo Maresca’s men have a couple of friendlies, but they have a drastically reduced summer schedule. In the meantime, the Blues are still trying to add to their three-signing haul, but they must also balance their spending after a stern warning and a sizable fine from UEFA.

UEFA fined Chelsea £27million for their big spending over recent years, and they warned the Blues that a further fine of £52million would be handed out if the West London club continue to overspend. As part of that, Chelsea are going to need to sanction more sales this summer if they want to keep up with their continued spending this summer, with more arrivals expected.

Joao Felix has been sold for around £40million, while Noni Madueke has joined Arsenal for around £50million, but according to the Evening Standard, there are seven more players up for sale as Chelsea bid to balance spending. Here we run you through the players.

Raheem Sterling

Sterling’s time at Chelsea was over as soon as Maresca dropped him on the back of pre-season of last year. The winger did not cut it at Arsenal, and it now looks as though he will have to lower his expectations and wages as he looks to rebuild his career.

Ben Chiwell

Chilwell fell out of Chelsea’s plans last season and wound up spending some time on loan with Crystal Palace. The left-back has struggled with injury issues in the past, but he shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a new Premier League club.

Axel Disasi

Disasi is too far down the pecking order to expect to play this season, and a departure is very likely. The centre-back was heavily linked with Aston Villa and Villarreal, but those deals no longer look likely. A new club is likely to be found at some point, but a loan deal may also be on the cards.

Armando Broja

Broja’s time at Chelsea could be up. He is 23 years of age and has failed to properly break into Maresca’s striker plans. He spent time out on loan with Everton last season, and it will be interesting to see what kind of club he can find this summer.

Carney Chukwuemeka

Chelsea are said to be hoping for a permanent sale when it comes to Chukwuemeka after he spent last season on loan with Borussia Dortmund last season. Dortmund were said to want to re-sign the midfielder on another loan deal, but the Blues are likely to hold out for a sale, or at least the promise of a future sale.

Lesley Ugochukwu

Ugochukwu is still only 21 years of age, so another loan deal could also be on the cards, but Chelsea could prefer a sale after he spent last season with Southampton, making 26 league appearances.

Renato Veiga

Veiga has reportedly attracted some interest after his loan spell with Juventus last season. Veiga is seen as a sellable asset who can bring in a sizable fee, and the Blues are looking to sell.

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