Chelsea: Players to sell this summer to finance new additions

2. Midfield

Chelsea has decent depth in midfield if the Blues can stay healthy, which is a big ‘if’ because they haven’t been able to. Rumors are beginning to circle about a sale of the defensive midfielder, N’Golo Kante. The first inclination is that he should be kept because when healthy, he’s the best at his position in the world. Yet, if Chelsea gets a major offer, it may be difficult to say no given his ongoing issues staying healthy and his age. Either way, the club wins as they get a lump sum of cash or Kante stays on—the situation could be a lot worse, for sure.

Jorginho is one of the Blues’ midfielders who should definitely be sold. He is a very good player, but the 28-year-old just doesn’t fit Lampard’s quick, attacking style of football. That’s no knock on Jorginho. In the right system, Maurizio Sarri’s or something similar, he is the linchpin between defense and the attack. Unfortunately for him, his time in London looks to be up.

Chelsea is not going to recoup the £50-or-so million pounds it took to sign Jorginho in the first place, but the possibility may exist that it may recoup £30 or 40 million. That should be good enough in a stagnant post-Coronavirus market. In the end, that money adds to the transfer fund and moves a player on who isn’t a part of Lampard’s future plans.

Another midfield candidate to depart is also Ross Barkley. The 26-year-old is a solid attacking midfielder, but he will not start. Barkley is a very good substitute when called upon later in a game or in cup games because he can provide experience and playmaking abilities off the bench. He may end up staying, but is not considered the most likely to leave after Sarri’s sacking at Juventus impacted the Jorginho market. Either way, a haul of £15 to 20 million should be available; the Blues should take the money and run.