Chelsea boss Potter makes huge summer transfer declaration

Graham Potter has admitted that Chelsea will have to sell several players in the summer. The Blues boss believes his squad is too big and needs to be trimmed down. Among those facing an uncertain future at the club is Mason Mount, who is understood to be a key target for Manchester United and Liverpool.

The England international remains in a stand-off with the club’s hierarchy over a new contract with his current deal ending in the summer. Other players that could be on their way out of the door include Mateo Kovacic, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Cesar Azpilicueta and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

After spending more than £500m on signings under their new owners, Chelsea needs to level the books and Potter has affirmed that ‌this will mean selling a number of squad members. Speaking to assembled media ahead of today’s clash with Aston Villa, he said: “The number of the squad is not optimal, whatever competition we are in.

“I think everybody would suggest that’s correct. That’s a normal part of the football club business. Things happen and people move on. Sometimes it’s because the player needs more game time. Sometimes it’s because there’s a sale.

“That’s the challenge we have. We have a big squad, a deep squad. It’s a squad with a lot of really, really good players. It’s a challenge to manage them. But it’s not been a negative challenge from my perspective.

‌“They’ve been, I would say, amazing, with how professional they have been and how supportive of each other they are. So that’s only something I can be positive about.”

Chelsea has hesitated to sell top players to their Premier League rivals in the past, but Potter admits it may be necessary to generate funds. “You think about an ideal world. But it’s never an ideal world,” he added.

“You have to deal with what you have to deal with in the summer. You have to make decisions. Do your business like everybody else does and accept you have to do what’s right for the football club and not worry too much about anybody else. Focus on what we have to do.”

Chelsea has the largest and most expensive first-team squad in the Premier League with 30 players and a total combined cost of £888m. The West London side remains under serious financial pressure after reporting losses of £121m for the 2021-22 season. Kovacic like Mount is out of contract in the summer, but conversations are understood to be ongoing between the club and player.

Potter said: “These things are really complicated. It’s not necessarily about my opinion. It’s about the player, it’s about the club, it’s about lots of things that I’m not in control of. I have nothing but positive things to say about Mason as a lad. He’s been brilliant with us. Really supportive. Mateo is also someone I have huge respect for. It’s between Mateo and the club to talk.”

Potter also confirmed that wantaway coach Anthony Barry will not be allowed to join Bayern Munich while both clubs remain in the Champions League. He continued: “That’s obviously something that I think is in the conversation.”

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