Chelsea may try to offload Kalidou Koulibaly at the end of the season.
The Senegal international, 31, joined Chelsea from Napoli at the start of the season and was expected to become a mainstay of the Blues' defence.
However, Koulibaly has failed to live up to expectations thus far, and he is no longer a regular starter at Stamford Bridge. Koulibaly is clearly taking longer than expected to adjust to the league.
The experienced defender, according to journalist Ben Jacobs, could be moved on at the end of the season.
Jacobs told GiveMeSport: “Hakim Ziyech is still there because his loan move fell through. I think Christian Pulisic has a question mark over his head. Maybe even Kalidou Koulibaly as well, even though he only joined the club over the course of the summer window. So, outgoings will be a big priority.”
The former Napoli defender is paid well at Stamford Bridge, and it makes sense for Chelsea to sell him unless he can regain his peak form.
In recent months, the Blues have signed two talented young centre-backs in Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile. With Fofana now fully recovered from his injury, Koulibaly may fall further down the pecking order at the London club, and a summer exit would be ideal for the player as well.
The Blues will almost certainly be hoping to recoup the majority of the £33 million they paid for the Senegal international, and how the situation develops remains to be seen.
Given his age and recent form, it is reasonable to expect Chelsea to take a hit on the player. It would be better for them to abandon him and move on.