Chelsea could sell as many as 15 players in the summer transfer window - starting with £35m star

Premier League heavyweights Chelsea could sell as many as 15 players in the summer transfer window as Todd Boehly continues to search for the winning formula at Stamford Bridge. NewcastleWorld understands that the first sale, worth in the region of £35m, is all but assured in St. James’ Park bound defender Lewis Hall.

The Blues academy graduate, who impressed last season for Chelsea, has spent the entirety of this season at Newcastle on loan, in a move which includes an obligation to buy for £28m, plus an additional £7m in add-ons if certain performance based criteria is met.

The 19-year-old has struggled for game time since making the move to St. James’ Park. Overall, the youngster has played just 104 minutes of Premier League football - making just eight appearances, with seven of those coming from the subs bench.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has been reluctant to share the transfer criteria needed to make the move permanent, but claims the left back is close to triggering the move, adding that he is prepared for him to play at Newcastle “for many years.”

He told reporters: “We have always believed in him and his quality and we have been working really hard with him on his game. He’s a really talented lad.”

Hall is just one of a number of players expected to leave West London in the coming months. Reports from Football London claim the likes of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, defenders Malang Sarr, Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella and Ian Maatsen, midfielders Carney Chukuwuemeka and Conor Gallagher, wingers Noni Madueke, Raheem Sterling and Hakim Ziyech and strikers Romelu Lukaku, David Datro Fofana and Armando Broja as players who could all join Hall in leaving.

Arrizabalaga, Maatsen, Ziyech, Lukaku, Fofana and Broja are all on loan at the moment, while Tottenham Hotspur are thought to be huge admirers of Gallagher, who is struggling to agree terms on a new long term contract. Of the players mentioned, Gallagher remains the biggest part of Pochettino’s plans, but his contract is due to expire in the summer of 2025, and the Blues may be forced to cash in on their academy graduate if a new long term deal isn’t reached.