£130k-a-week ace in talks to leave Chelsea as BlueCo prepare “ruthless” axe

Chelsea’s next order of business, after winning the Club World Cup in New Jersey, is to trim their bloated squad.

Related

Bayern make approach for £31m Chelsea star who shone at the Club World Cup

The Bundesliga giants have come forward to sign one of Enzo Maresca’s key players.

Enzo Maresca’s side reigned triumphant with a statement 3-0 win over European champions PSG, a result which also yielded an £87.5 million financial windfall for the club, but they remain under pressure to sell unwanted players.

Chelsea struck an agreement with UEFA to balance their squad through making sales, coming after they were fined for breaking FFP rules, and the west Londoners could face an additional fine of around £51 million if they fail to comply with regulations in the next four years.

They also need to offload players so they can register new signings for the Champions League next season.

“It’s been well documented that Chelsea have spent a lot of money in the transfer window already this summer, and they need to balance their books,” said Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol, after they agreed a deal to sell Noni Madueke to Arsenal for around £50 million.

“Last week they came to an agreement with UEFA that basically said that if they want to register new players for the Champions League next season, they have to make sure that their transfer spend this season is balanced out this summer by the players they sell as well.

“So they’ve signed players like Liam Delap and Joao Pedro. That means they also have to sell players.”

Since Madueke’s switch to Arsenal, Chelsea have agreed to sell Djordje Petrovic to Bournemouth in a deal worth £25 million, and midfielder Mathis Amougou joined Strasbourg permanently last week.

Madueke, Petrovic and Amougou join Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys and Marcus Bettinelli out of the Stamford Bridge exit door, so Chelsea are making progress on outgoings, and many more are expected to follow.

Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu, Armando Broja and Christopher Nkunku are also likely to leave Chelsea, and they’ll listen to offers for midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

João Félix in talks to leave Chelsea and join Benfica

That is according to Standard Sport, who report that BlueCo are preparing a “ruthless” summer clearout.

Another name on the chopping block is attacking midfield flop João Félix, who spent the second half of 2024/2025 on loan at AC Milan after failing to break into Maresca’s first-team fold on a regular enough basis.

Felix re-joined Chelsea in a £46 million deal from Atlético Madrid, but his reunion with the west Londoners really hasn’t gone to plan. He’s out of Maresca’s long-term plans, and the 25-year-old could now return to boyhood club Benfica.

Standard Sport and reporter Dom Smith claim Felix is in talks over a move back to Portugal with Benfica, as Chelsea attempt to get his £130,000-per-week wages off the books for good.

They apparently won’t entertain any form of loan, either, and are determined to seal his permanent exit.