Four Chelsea stars who may be axed by Thomas Tuchel this year in Stamford Bridge clear-out

Chelsea v Liverpool pictures

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel could axe four stars in 2022 as he continues to trim the fat on the talented squad at his disposal in west London. By now, the Blues boss has been in the job long enough to have a solid idea of who is in his plans, and who isn’t. As such, Express Sport looks at the quartet in question.

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Since Edouard Mendy’s arrival at Stamford Bridge, the Spaniard has broadly been out of the spotlight. 

By and large, the lack of pressure has benefitted his performances when he does play, although he has only appeared 18 times since the start of last season. 

Leaving a £71million goalkeeper to sit on the bench is not ideal by any means, but convincing other clubs to submit bids has so far proven difficult. 

The whopping seven-year contract handed to Kepa in 2018 certainly will not have helped, so if a club wanted to take a punt on the Spaniard, it is unlikely that Tuchel would stand in their way. 

JUST IN: Newcastle ‘rejected’ in Sven Botman approach but £30m ace could step in to save transfer

Ross Barkley

Now 28-years-old, Barkley was hailed as one of Everton’s best academy graduates when he broke through in 2013/14. 

By the time he moved to Chelsea five seasons later, however, his stock had already started to fall and many wondered how he would fit in at Stamford Bridge. 

Indeed, game time has been tricky to come by for Barkley, averaging just 13 Premier League appearances across his four completed campaigns with the club. 

The talented midfielder earned mixed reviews for his loan spell with Aston Villa last term, and he has been linked with a surprise return to Everton in recent weeks. 

DON’T MISS
How Chelsea squad ‘reacted’ to Thomas Tuchel’s handling of Romelu Lukaku saga
Man Utd target Julian Alvarez’s agent ‘heading to Manchester’ for transfer meeting

Marcos Alonso

The Spaniard has endured an up-and-down Chelsea career, following long spells out of the side with goal-laden purple patches of form. 

Even so, plenty of Blues fans remain unconvinced when it comes to his all-round game, and at 31 years old, it could soon be time for the club to cash in while they still can. 

Tuchel’s view on the player is perhaps highlighted by the fact that, since Ben Chilwell’s season-ending injury, Chelsea have been linked with replacements in the transfer market. 

That is hardly a vote of confidence in Alonso, although there would surely be plenty of suitors if the Blues did put him in the shop window, thanks to his attacking prowess. 

Hakim Ziyech

Chelsea were widely applauded for signing Ziyech from Ajax in 2020, but the move has not quite gone to plan. 

Now well into his second season with the club, the Moroccan has notched just three Premier League goals and struggled to establish himself as a regular starter.

Ziyech has also fallen victim to the Blues’ wealth of options on the wing, with the likes of Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi all vying for minutes. 

It would not shock too many to see Tuchel deem the 28-year-old surplus to requirements over the next year, in an exit which could net Chelsea a healthy transfer sum. 

Source: Read Full Article