Mason Mount and Kai Havertz amongst Chelsea stars in limbo as club aim to address two-year deals

After splashing the cash like there was no tomorrow in January, brace yourself for the Todd Boehly mega-sale at Chelsea this summer, where all players on two-year deals or less must go.

Boehly has racked up an unprecedented transfer bill in his first full season at Stamford Bridge, spending £250million last summer before forking out a mind-blowing £300million on new recruits in January.

As a result, the Blues owner will likely need to balance the books when the transfer window reopens in July, and The Telegraph claim he is determined to move on any players who won’t commit themselves to the club beyond two years.

Enforcing this strategy would leave several first-team stars vulnerable at the end of the season… so who may be shown the door? 

Sportsmail has run the rule over every Chelsea player in the final two years of their contract and assessed whether they should stay or go this summer.

Todd Boehly reportedly wants to sell Chelsea players who do not commit to beyond two years

Such a strategy would leave the futures of players such as Mateo Kovacic, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Mason Mount (left to right) in doubt

N’Golo Kante (Expires this summer)

Kante is understood to be on the verge of signing a new three-year contract, and despite missing most of the season through injury that will be music to Chelsea fans’ ears.

It may be a risk given his fitness problems and the fact he turns 32 this month, yet when fit and firing there is no better box-to-box midfielder in world football, so this is a risk worth taking.

VERDICT: KEEP

Mateo Kovacic (Expires next year)

With just over a year to run on his latest deal, the Croatian midfielder has a tough decision to make this summer as he eyes what could be the final long-term contract of his career ahead of his 29th birthday in May.

Reports suggest Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are interested in prising him away from the Blues, which says it all about how brilliant a player he is on his day. Boehly should do everything possible to keep Kovacic at Stamford Bridge.

VERDICT: KEEP 

Christian Pulisic (Expires next year)

There were once high hopes for Pulisic when he arrived from Borussia Dortmund in 2019 and quickly showed flashes of the breathtaking quality he possesses. Some, including this writer, felt he could even go on and emulate the much-revered Eden Hazard.

N’Golo Kante is on the verge of signing a new three-year contract despite his injury problems

Kovacic is wanted by Man City this summer, which shows why Chelsea should try to keep him

Pulisic has failed to unlock his early potential and is not deserving of a bumper new contract

However, a series of injury problems over the past three years have prevented the American from unlocking this early potential, with inconsistency and a lack of end product blighting his game in recent seasons. It may suit all parties to go their separate ways this summer.

VERDICT: SELL 

Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Expires in 2024, with option of further year)

While he has never truly got back to his best after suffering a serious Achilles injury in 2019, the 27-year-old remains a useful squad player for a club with ambitions to compete on four fronts.

Chelsea have the option to extend his current deal by an extra year, yet Boehly may wish to make it two under his long-term strategy. 

VERDICT: KEEP 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Expires in 2024)

One of the easiest choices on the list, Aubameyang has continued Chelsea’s long-running No 9 curse since joining from Barcelona last summer, having rapidly fallen out of favour under Graham Potter this year.

It is tough to envisage him sticking around for another season, though the Blues may struggle to find a buyer at the end of the current campaign.

VERDICT: SELL 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been a disastrous signing and is unlikely to stick around

Mason Mount (Expires in 2024)

The prospect of Mount leaving Chelsea was unfathomable as recently as six months ago. But with the academy graduate reportedly reluctant to sign one of Boehly’s mammoth contracts, his future is uncertain heading into the summer window.

A number of clubs are believed to be monitoring his situation, including Premier League rivals Liverpool, and he certainly wouldn’t be short of suitors if the Blues look for a sale. 

Nevertheless, when at his best Mount has already proven himself a player capable of winning major titles, so he deserves to be shown some faith and handed a deal that suits his needs this summer.

VERDICT: KEEP 

Cesar Azpilicueta (Expires in 2024)

The Chelsea captain put pen to paper on a new two-year deal August, meaning Boehly will likely want to address his future when he enters the final 12 months this summer.

At 33 Azpilicueta’s best days are certainly behind him, yet can the Blues afford to lose a leader of his experience next season? He remains a solid reserve option at right-back, so keeping him around for a little while longer may not be a terrible move.

VERDICT: KEEP 

Mount is out of contract next summer but Chelsea would be foolish to let him go this summer

Blues captain Cesar Azpilicueta’s best years are behind him but his experience is crucial

Thiago Silva (Expires in 2024)

The one exception to Boehly’s new contract strategy is Silva, who only signed a one-year extension earlier this month.

Even at the age of 38, the Brazilian defender’s performance levels are not dipping and he remains one of Chelsea’s most important players, if not their most important. It would also make little sense to hand him a long-term deal, meaning his future does not need to be addressed.

VERDICT: KEEP 

Kai Havertz (Expires in 2025)

Boehly has a number of first-team players heading into the final two years of their contract this summer, but none provide as much of a dilemma as Havertz.

After joining for £71million in 2020, the German forward concluded his debut season at Chelsea by scoring the winner in their Champions League final win over Manchester City. Since then, however, he has failed to kick on and truly justify such a hefty fee.

While he can be an elegant player to watch on his day, two-and-a-half years into his Blues career it is still unclear where Havertz’s best position is. As both a false nine and a No 10 he has been underwhelming for the majority of his time in England. It could be time for the club to cut their losses and move on.   

VERDICT: SELL 

Kai Havertz has had enough time to settle in at Chelsea but is yet to truly justify his price tag

Ben Chilwell (Expires in 2025)

The England left-back has been extremely unlucky with injuries in recent years, making just seven appearances in the Premier League last term and 12 this season.

Though along with Reece James, Chelsea boast the strongest wing-back pairing in world football when the pair are available, so tying Chilwell down to a long-term extension is paramount. 

VERDICT: KEEP 

Conor Gallagher (Expires in 2025)

It has been a challenging first season in the senior squad for Gallagher, who has generally failed to impress despite a strong loan spell at Crystal Palace in 2021-22.

It’s been a tough season for Conor Gallagher, who could be better suited elsewhere

The 23-year-old has looked somewhat out of his depth at times, likely a result of his inexperience, but it is difficult to argue his case for a longer contract. Cashing in on him this summer and including a buy-back option could be Boehly’s best move. 

VERDICT: SELL 

Edouard Mendy (Expires in 2025)

The injured Chelsea goalkeeper has been out of contention for so long you would be forgiven for thinking he was no longer on their books.

With Kepa Arrizabalaga still proving unreliable at times, Boehly may look to break the bank for a new No 1 in the summer window. Yet just three years since playing a key role in their Champions League triumph Mendy deserves to stay and fight for his place.

VERDICT: KEEP 

Hakim Ziyech (Expires in 2025)

After coming so close to leaving in January, Ziyech appears destined to secure his desired move away at the second time of asking this summer.

The Morocco star has never won over Chelsea supporters and is another who lacks consistency, so parting company at the end of the season would make sense for all involved. 

VERDICT: SELL 

Kepa Arrizabalaga (Expires in 2025)

Like Havertz, Kepa was a highly-expensive investment for Chelsea when he arrived four-and-a-half years ago, and following a successful first season which ended with success in the Europa League his form has plummeted dramatically.

As Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Tottenham showed once more, the £72million shot-stopper always has an error in him and is simply not cut out to be first choice for a club with ambitions of winning major trophies.

VERDICT: SELL 

Kepa Arrizabalaga is still unreliable at times and does not appear cut out to be Chelsea’s No 1