Chelsea reportedly have an opportunity to part ways with Malang Sarr, who hasn't played a game for the Blues in each of the last two seasons. And manager Enzo Maresca could use the deal to his advantage by luring a player away from the potential buyer.
Sarr was playing first-team football for OGC Nice as a teenager, but his career entered a tailspin after signing for Chelsea. In the four years since arriving at Stamford Bridge, the defender has managed just eight Premier League appearances.
Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino didn't even know who he was when asked about the club's plans for him last campaign.
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Despite his standing in the squad, Sarr is believed to pocket more per week than the likes of Levi Colwill, Cole Palmer and Conor Gallagher. Shifting him from the wage bill will therefore be a high priority for Maresca this summer.
According to Foot Mercato, RC Lens have registered their interest in the 25-year-old. While the move is still at an early stage, the French side are said to be 'trying', and they are unlikely to be met with much resistance from Chelsea chiefs.
Making things even more appealing to Maresca is the possibility of Lens striker Elye Wahi heading in the other direction. According to L'Equipe, Chelsea have reignited their interest in the striker after missing out on him last summer.
Wahi, who scored 19 Ligue 1 goals for Montpellier in 2022/23, was reportedly tailed by West Ham and the Blues before opting to remain in France and join Lens in a £29million deal.
Chelsea are yet to make an offer for the 21-year-old but they are said to be waiting for the selling club to provide an asking price. If Sarr heads to Lens, it could grease the wheels for Wahi to take his place in Maresca's squad.
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A chaotic period of transfer spending under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital has forced Chelsea to reshuffle their ranks this summer. Ian Maatsen, Lewis Hall, Omari Hutchinson, Hakim Ziyech and Thiago Silva are no longer on the books.
But a new crop of young players have been snapped up to rejuvenate Maresca's squad. Marc Guiu and Omari Kellyman, both 18, are joined by 20-year-old Renato Veiga, centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo and midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in a raft of summer arrivals.
