Five players Chelsea should sell before the window closes
It’s been an interesting summer for the mighty Blues.
Chelsea have made just two first-team signings thus far – snapping up N’Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi from Leicester City and Marseille respectively – whilst a large cohort of players have left Stamford Bridge either permanently or on loan.
But Antonio Conte’s squad still feels over-inflated and if he’s to streamline it in time for summer deadline day, there’s plenty of work to be done at Stamford Bridge.
Parting with more first-team players could free up extra funds for Chelsea’s newly appointed gaffer to use in the transfer market – potentially to make one final blockbuster signing and further boost the club’s Premier League title credentials.
So who should stay and who should go? Well, that’s what this article intends to investigate.
We at The Shed Ender have outlined five players Conte should look to cash in on before the end of the summer transfer window. Do you agree with our selections? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
PEDRO
Antonio Conte issued Pedro his first start of the season against Watford on Saturday but it wasn’t a particularly convincing performance from the Spain international.
Before being taken off after 81 minutes, the winger-forward failed to create a single chance or produce an effort at goal.
No doubt, the three-time Champions League winner has a wealth of pedigree but he’s struggled to prove it in the Premier League; it could simply be that he’s too slight for the aggressive and physical style of English football.
With Conte seemingly keen on Victor Moses, calling upon him twice from the bench this term, the Italian gaffer should cash in on Pedro and recoup some of the fee the club paid last summer.
Loic Remy
Loic Remy’s not really had a fair chance since signing from QPR in summer 2014, used almost exclusively as a substitute by Jose Mourinho and eternally third in the pecking order.
Nonetheless, the Frenchman is now 29 years of age and doesn’t appear to be a part of Antonio Conte’s plans, with new signing Michy Batshuayi his man to go to in search of extra firepower so far this season.
But well proven in the Premier League from his spells with the Hoops and Newcastle United, I’m sure a number of English clubs are interested in signing the pacey front man.
Asmir Begovic
With Chelsea set to sign an alternative in Dynamo Zagreb’s Eduardo, it’s time to cash in on Asmir Begovic.
The Bosnian international is a highly-talented goalkeeper and doesn’t deserve to be battling it out for understudy duties after more than proving himself in the Premier League with Stoke City.
Decent performances in the Champions League last season should only further add to the 6 foot 6 shot-stopper’s value and he’s certainly capable of playing at that level.
LUCAS PIAZON
Lucas Piazon once seemed like a world-beater in the making but the Brazilian just hasn’t kicked on as expected since making his debut in 2012.
Barring an eleven-goal spell with Vitesse during 2013/14, the attacking midfielder has struggled whilst out on loan, notching up just five goals in 66 league appearances throughout spells at Malaga, Eintracht Frankfurt and Reading.
The 22-year-old now seems a million miles away from the first-team and unless he gets regular game-time at a smaller club, he’ll never develop anywhere close to the potential once heralded of him.
The Blues should cut their losses and let Piazon prove himself somewhere else.
JUAN CUADRADO
At one point this summer it seemed Juan Cuadrado might get another shot at Stamford Bridge but he’s yet to be called upon by Antonio Conte in the Premier League.
And although the Colombian international may be viewed as a flop in west London, he’s still hugely popular in Serie A from spells with Fiorentina and Juventus.
A return to the Italian top flight seems like the most logical solution for the South American, who has made just 13 Premier League appearances since signing from Viola in January 2015.