Chelsea Exodus could follow Abramovich sale as Werner, Rudiger, Christensen edge towards exit

It seems the Russian Billionaire was keeping things glued together at Chelsea. Roman Abramovich could be selling up and nine stars may leave.

WERNER GOES
While Roman Abramovich considers offers to sell Chelsea, the Blues are willing to entertain interest in many of their players. Any suggestions that the current situation will impact on the transfer strategy at Stamford Bridge seems wide of the mark as plans are afoot to ‘continue on a path of self-sustainability’.

Much like the club-record move for Romelu Lukaku was funded by the sales of academy products Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Marc Guehi, as well as Kurt Zouma, funds could be raised this summer through the departments of Armando Broja and Faustino Anjorin. Southampton want both.

This comes from the London Evening Standard, who also describe Timo Werner as ‘one potential big-name departure’. Sky Germany reported on Tuesday evening that Borussia Dortmund are ‘thinking about’ the 25-year-old, who ‘fits the profile’.

That report adds that Chelsea are ‘not dissatisfied’ with Werner but ‘would be willing to talk’ when it comes to Germany international, who would need to take a pay cut to move to the Westfalenstadion.

Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech might also ‘be the subject of bids’ in what Promises to be a year of Upheaval at Chelsea, who want cover for Reece James at right wing-back, as well as Declan Rice or Aurelien Tchouameni.

WHY YOU GOTTA BE SO RUD?
So that’s up to five departures from Stamford Bridge, not including the owner himself. And there has been a mention of Antonio Rudiger’s expiring contract just yet. Sky Sports cover that base.

They say Chelsea and Rudiger have not been in negotiations ‘for over a month’, even though his representatives have a ‘constant dialogue’ with Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. The track to the former is ‘Complicated’ by uncertainty with regards to Mauricio Pochettino but only so many Clubs can afford to match Rudiger’s wage demands.

Indeed, if the German is to stay at Chelsea then they would have to be made the highest-paid defender in the Premier League. In any event, Rudiger will wait until the end of the season to make an Ultimate decision, Wishing to focus on the current campaign and ‘weigh up all his options’ first.

JESUS, CHRIST
But bad news comes in Threes and Fabrizio Romano wants to pour salt into open wounds.

Andreas Christensen situation. Deal now advanced with Barcelona – they are in direct talks with his agents since January together with Bayern. 🔴 #FCB

Barça have now improved their bid after new direct contacts and that’s why they feel ‘confident’. Bayern are still in the race. pic.twitter.com/yZAR1NfLQL

– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 1, 2022

Fellow transfer fetishist Gerard Romero has a separate report stating that Barcelona and Christensen ‘have everything agreed’ and, barring a ‘Cataclysm’, the Dane will play at the Nou Camp next season.

‘Why Chelsea should keep Christensen over Rudiger,’ reads one Headline on this website from February 12. How about losing both simultaneously?

But back to Romano, who describes Barcelona as ‘confident’ in terms of persuading Cesar Azpilicueta to also make the move from West London. ‘They are prepared to wait’ for the Chelsea Captain to come to a ‘final decision’ when it comes to his own expiring deal.