Chelsea to 'sell captain Reece James in summer' as £100m spending plan emerges

Posted Sunday, March 31, 2024 by Express.co.uk

Chelsea are expecting to offload several stars over the summer to fund their transfer business.

Chelsea to 'sell captain Reece James in summer' as £100m spending plan emerges
Chelsea are reportedly keen to sell Reece James this summer (Image: Getty)

Chelsea are reportedly planning to sell club captain Reece James at the end of the season. The fullback has struggled with injury problems at Stamford Bridge over the past few years, and a decision now appears to have been made to cut ties with the academy graduate.

The Blues are expected to, once again, be one of the busiest Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window. Mauricio Pochettino is desperate to shake up his ranks, with reinforcements demanded at both ends of the pitch.

However, splashing the cash may not be as simple as it sounds for Todd Boehly. Reports have speculated that Chelsea are struggling to toe the line of Financial Fair Play and therefore a fire sale could be in the offing.

The Blues are keen to part ways with several of their homegrown stars at the end of the season as they represent pure profit on their balance sheet, meaning the likes of Trevoh Chalobah, Ian Maatsen and Trevoh Chalobah have been put in the shop window by the club.

More significant sales appear to be on the horizon too, with The Times reporting that Chelsea are ‘preparing to sell’ James at the end of the season to raise funds. The higher powers at the club have slapped a £60million price tag on the defender, which is unlikely to be out of the reach of top clubs around Europe.

James was named the Blues’ captain last August but has hardly worn the skipper’s armband as injuries have hampered his campaign markedly, which has handed Malo Gusto the chance to step up and showcase why he could succeed him in right-back.

Chelsea feel that selling James would put them on course to achieving their goal of generating over £100m through player sales, with Conor Gallagher also set to be sold, claims the same report. The midfielder has been linked with a move away from his boyhood side on countless occasions over the past few seasons, though a sale now appears likelier than ever given that his contract at the club expires in 2025.

The 24-year-old is willing to extend his stay with the Blues but has demanded ‘radically improved terms’ which have not yet been agreed upon. Gallagher’s list of suitors, which includes Tottenham, has continued to grow throughout this season and Chelsea do not expect to struggle to stir up interest in their playmaker.