Chelsea are set to offload six players and more could follow, writes Paul Lagan. The names of Dan Petrescu, Eddie Newton, Andy Myers, Bernard Lambourde, David Lee and Paul Hughes were circulated to Premiership and First Division clubs this week.
Petrescu and Newton, who both wanted guaranteed first-team places, are expected to fetch £2.5m. Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli wants to cut his squad to 20, clearing out any dissenting voices.
The other four have been told that they will not figure in team plans for the season.
Cutting down the wage bill is a priority for Chelsea.
Ken Bates confirmed in Saturday's programme notes that for every new player somebody had to leave and that Vialli would have to balance players' personal ambitions with Chelsea's requirements, which take priority.
Sunderland are keen to land Newton, and Spurs are eyeing Petrescu. Michael Duberry, although not on the can-go list, is interesting Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool. But an £8m offer would be too hard to resist.
Tonight Chelsea take on Real Madrid in the European Super Cup. The one-off fixture in Monaco is against the winners of the Champions' League and European Cup Winners.
Brian Laudrup will play at some point during the game, said coach Graham Rix.
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