Four Chelsea stars who could leave after end of 2020/21 Premier League season
Thomas Tuchel has enjoyed a stellar start to life in West London, guiding Chelsea to two cup finals, some achievement considering they languished in tenth when he arrived.
The Blues lost the first of their two finals to Brendan Rodgers Leicester, a Youri Tielemans strike preventing Chelsea from securing their ninth FA Cup title.
Thomas Tuchel’s attentions will now turn to Saturday’s Champions League final against Premier League rivals Manchester City, the game offering the Blues the chance to win their second Champions League title before any of their London rivals have the chance to boast one.
There are a number of Chelsea stars who could have a huge part to play in the club’s near-future despite potentially not plying their trade at Stamford Bridge next season.
In what is likely to be another busy transfer window for the Blues, expect both some big-name arrivals as well as a number of current members heading for the exit.
Here are three members of Tuchel’s side who could call time on their Chelsea career in the coming weeks.
Olivier Giroud
Purchased from London rivals Arsenal in the January transfer window of 2018, Giroud has enjoyed a number of highlights in a Chelsea shirt that have endeared himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful.
None more obvious than his headed goal against his former side in the Europa League final two years ago that set Chelsea on their way in a rampant performance that saw them beat the Gunners 4-1 on the night.
After the game, Giroud simultaneously won the hearts of Blues fans while cutting all ties to the Gunners fanbase after a video emerged of him wildly celebrating while shouting ‘thank you Arsenal’ after getting one over on his old team.
Giroud has hardly been prolific during his time in West London, scoring just 17 Premier League goals in three and a half seasons – but when he has found the net, it has often come at the most crucial of times.
Europa League finals, FA Cup semifinals – the Frenchman has had a knack of showing up when it matters for the Blues and with the upcoming Champions League final against Manchester City, who are usa casino‘s favourites, its reaming’s to be seen how the lineup with unfolds.
Out of contract come the end of this season, there has been little talk of Chelsea offering him a renewal, especially given he already finds himself starved of minutes with Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham also jostling him for the same position.
The rumours linking Chelsea with yet another striker in Erling Haaland should be enough of a sign to show Giroud’s days at the Bridge are likely numbered.
Thiago Silva
A signing that divided opinion almost immediately.
36-year-old Thiago Silva opted to try his hand in English football after eight years spent at French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
While some Chelsea fans were excited by the presence the highly-decorated central defender could bring to the Blues backline, others bemoaned his age and questioned how he would adapt to the pace of the Premier League.
A shaky start was followed by a disaster showing away at West Brom, where Silva was caught in possession and gifted the Baggies a goal in the 3-3 draw.
However, Silva used his years of experience to remain composed, steady the ship and establish himself as a vital cog in this Chelsea side.
The Brazilian international is arguably the most dependable player Tuchel has at his disposal, with the German boss calling upon Silva for some of Chelsea’s biggest games this season, including both legs of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.
Despite some solid showings, Silva will be 37 years old a month into next campaign, and it remains to be seen whether the club will activate the clause in his contract that would see him enjoy another season at the Bridge.
Willy Caballero
Spot-kick saving specialist Caballero has spent the last seven years in England playing for two of the biggest sides the Premier League has to offer.
After his three-year stint at Manchester City, Caballero beat the odds from real money online casino games and made the move to West London in July 2017 on a free transfer.
Most of Caballero’s minutes in a Chelsea shirt have come in domestic cup action, though his most notable moment for the Blues is probably an incident that saw him forced to remain on the bench.
Caballero was being readied to enter the 2019 Carabao Cup final against Manchester City with the clash heading to penalties, before then-first choice keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to leave the field of play despite his number coming up on the subs board.
As a result, Caballero was denied the chance to make himself the hero against his former side. With Kepa now playing second fiddle to last summer’s recruit Edouard Mendy, Caballero is some way down the pecking order as third-choice shot stopper.
Out of contract this summer, it is unlikely Chelsea will be in any rush to tie him down to another deal. The 39-year-old has been linked with a move to Spain, having spent the majority of his career with La Liga outfits.
Tammy Abraham
Yet another striker rumoured to be heading for the Chelsea exit, Abraham has faced a miserable time since Tuchel’s arrival.
The German coach has often either resorted to using Abraham as a bit-part player with brief cameos off the bench, or left out of matchday squads altogether.
Enjoying regular minutes and finding the net at an impressive rate under previous boss Frank Lampard, Abraham’s Chelsea career hit a new low recently after he was omitted from the FA Cup final squad – despite scoring the most goals of any Blues player en route to the final.
Abraham has a lengthy list of admirers, but the two clubs most often touted with a move for the 23-year-old are two of Chelsea’s London rivals in West Ham and Arsenal.
Reports suggest that Chelsea could use Abraham as a make-weight in a deal that would see Declan Rice head the other way.
