Chelsea In Transfer Crisis With FIVE First-Team Players Wanting To Leave This Summer

Chelsea are facing a transfer exodus this summer with five senior players reportedly desperate to leave the club.

Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen have already left Stamford Bridge, joining Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.

Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku has also been allowed to rejoin Inter Milan on a season-long loan.

But there could be further departures this summer, with five more first-team players hoping to leave the London club, according to The Sun.

Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso are both keen to join their former teammate Christensen at Barcelona.

The pair have just one year remaining on their respective deals with Chelsea but Tuchel is reluctant to allow Azpilicueta to leave this summer.

Hakim Ziyech reportedly handed in a transfer request in June after becoming frustrated at his lack of first-team opportunities under Tuchel, who is said to being open to selling the Morocco international.

Another winger, United States international Christian Pulisic, is also said to be keen to leave in search of more first-team football.

Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner are reportedly keen to leave Chelsea (Image: Alamy)

Juventus and AC Milan have been linked with a move for the American, who faces increased competition for places at Chelsea this season following the arrival of Raheem Sterling from Manchester City.

Timo Werner finds himself in a similar position to Pulisic but could be handed a more prominent role this season following the departure of Lukaku.

But when asked if he could be happy at Chelsea next season, Werner cryptically replied: "I could be happy everywhere.

"The most important thing is that I am happy. I am happy when I play and score goals. That's the fact. That's what I should take care of and other things will come."

Thomas Tuchel faces a potential exodus of senior players (Image: Alamy)

Two players that Tuchel is willing to let leave are Ross Barkley and Michy Batshuayi but Chelsea are yet to receive significant offers for the pair.

Speaking after Chelsea's embarrassing 4-0 defeat to rivals Arsenal in pre-season, Tuchel admitted a number of players were seeking an exit from the club.

"We have a lot of players who are thinking about leaving and looking at their options," said Tuchel.

"We got sanctioned and players left us, we know that some players are trying to leave us, and this is where it is."

Topics: Chelsea, Football, Transfers, Premier League, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Cesar Azpilicueta, Marcos Alonso, Christian Pulisic

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

@rory_ocallaghan