Chelsea owner Todd Boehly warned selling two players would see club ‘lose its soul’
Chelsea has been cautioned that if they sell two of their top players, it could result in the loss of the club’s “essence.” Todd Boehly and his associates may attempt to generate money after two transfer windows of lavish expenditures.
Since the club’s acquisition last year, they have spent over £600 million, including breaking the British transfer record by acquiring Enzo Fernandez from Benfica on deadline day.
Enzo Fernandez was one of several players who joined Chelsea in January, alongside Mykhaylo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana, and Andrey Santos, following a summer of big spending. Meanwhile, Christopher Nkunku and Malo Gusto have already agreed to join the club next season.
There have been concerns about the size of Graham Potter’s squad, with a potential clear-out at the end of the season. Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher have both been linked with moves away from Chelsea, with Mount’s contract situation adding further complexity.
Gallagher attracted significant interest in January after Fernandez’s arrival, but Arsenal legend Paul Merson has advised the club not to sell two of their homegrown talents.
“I want him [Potter] to stay,” Merson wrote for Sportskeeda. “I’m not sure if he’s the one bringing these players in. I’m watching these players and I wonder whether these signings are better than the players they’ve got.
“They are absolutely not. So why are they buying these players? They might very well offload players like Mason Mount and Conor Gallager and profit off their sales because they are academy graduates. And then suddenly, they’ll figure out that the club has lost its soul.”
Mason Mount’s contract with Chelsea will expire at the end of the following season, but talks about a new deal have stalled due to both parties being unable to reach an agreement.
Mount is seeking a contract that matches the club’s top earners, but he has recently been left out of the starting lineup, as Graham Potter has favored playing Joao Felix and Kai Havertz as a front two.
There have been rumors linking Liverpool with a move for Mason Mount, and if Chelsea are unable to reach a new contract agreement with him, they will have a decision to make at the end of the season regarding a potential sale.
Conor Gallagher has only started one game for Chelsea since the January transfer window closed and Enzo Fernandez arrived at the club. Despite interest from Everton and Newcastle in January, he remains at Chelsea for now.
However, if he struggles to secure regular playing time amidst competition from Fernandez, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and the returning N’Golo Kante, he may consider a move away from Chelsea in the summer.
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly warned selling two players would see club ‘lose its soul’
