This season, the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership was anxious to get new contracts for their finest players, and they signed the majority of Chelsea’s young players to massive long-term contracts, with Mason Mount standing out.
Mount has turned down Chelsea’s offers of an extension as his current deal nears its final 12 months. Although 90 minutes is aware that his preference would be to stay at Stamford Bridge, he hasn’t yet expressed satisfaction with the terms provided.
Chelsea are determined to keep Mount but are prepared to offload the academy graduate in the summer if he continues to resist their offers, with the Boehly-Clearlake group certain no player will be allowed to depart on a free transfer.
Chelsea’s ownership like to keep players from signing contracts that are in their final two years, and this philosophy will be on display this summer when choices are made on a number of first-team players.
The only player still in danger of departing when his contract expires this year is third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli since N’Golo Kante, whose deal expires this summer, is in advanced talks about an extension.
But if they don’t commit to Chelsea for the foreseeable future, a number of players might all be given the door in 2024. Mateo Kovacic, Cesar Azpilicueta, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic, and Mount all have contracts that are coming to an end. But, because to his experience and age, veteran center-back Thiago Silva, whose contract also runs until 2024, is viewed as an exception.
Kovacic has discussed an extension with members of that group, but no substantial progress has been made in those discussions.
Also, Chelsea has a handful of players whose contracts are up in 2025. Both goalkeepers Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy have about 18 months left on their contracts, but as of right now, it looks like the latter will depart in the summer.
In addition to Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech, who nearly joined PSG on loan in January, is also anticipated to depart. If Chelsea does decide to sell, Manchester City will be interested in the left-back even though the 26-year-old has been a key player for Graham Potter’s team and is believed to be content at Stamford Bridge.
Conor Gallagher, a winter target for Everton, has held conversations about extending his current contract, which expires in 2025, but the academy graduate has yet to see any significant progress in those talks.
Chelsea is gearing up for another hectic summer as they look to cut the bloated squad that has accumulated over the last two transfer windows. The Blues seek to collect enough money to support additional acquisitions, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa being major targets.
