Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has been backed to sell up to nine players in a major summer cull. Former Aston Villa captain Gabriel Agbonlahor has given a list of seven stars he would let go and two further players he would consider axing.
Chelsea have a huge squad, which many feel has played a part in their downfall this season. Graham Potter was unable to keep all his players happy, which led to his demise as head coach after less than seven months in the dugout.
Boehly has splashed the cash in the transfer market, spending over £600million in just two windows since buying the club. Very few of the signings have proven to be successful as of yet.
Frank Lampard has been unable to make a difference since returning as interim boss, losing his first four matches in charge. Agbonlahor believes a major overhaul of the Chelsea squad is required.
He believes academy graduates Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount should all be let go this summer. Mount in particular has been linked with an exit, with Liverpool keen on signing him ahead of his contract expiring in 2024.
Agbonlahor also named club captain Cesar Azpilicueta, wingers Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic and striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as four players who must go. He also thinks a decision will need to be made over Kalidou Koulibaly.
Agbonlahor told talkSPORT: “So I’ve got the list out here. Loftus-Cheek, for me, I would get rid of. Mason Mount, I wouldn’t give him a new contract.
“Conor Gallagher, I would get rid of. Aubameyang is an easy one to get rid of, and for Pulisic I would say ‘bye-bye’.
“Koulibaly, touch and go, he hasn’t looked like the Koulibaly they wanted to sign from Napoli. Azpilicueta I’d let go and Ziyech I would let go.”
Agbonlahor also believes Boehly will not be happy with Thiago Silva’s comments following Chelsea’s Champions League exit. Silva hit out at the club for decisions made in recent weeks.
Agbonlahor reckons the Brazilian stalwart could be the ninth player let go. He said: “Did you see Thiago Silva’s interview after the game? Even he said it didn’t he, he was really honest.
“Yeah [he could leave], I think Todd Boehly will look at him and think you’ve been a bit too honest. But you can’t have 31 players, imagine trying to take a session?”
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