Man City eye move for Chelsea star as crisis club fear losing eight players this summer

Chelsea are facing an increasingly desperate battle to maintain the services of their most high-profile players, with Manchester City and Real Madrid looking to capitalise on the chaos which has engulfed the west London club.

The UK Goverment’s decision to sanction Roman Abramovich has prevented the club’s long-time owner the opportunity to make the quick sale he desired.

A number of potential buyers, including English property tycoon Nick Candy, remain interested in purchasing the Premier League giants, but Abramovich can only sell on the condition that he does not gain financially.

Chelsea have now effectively been placed in limbo and with their main sources of revenue cut off, they are in no position to make guarantees to their players or enter into discussions over new contracts.

The likes of Antonio Rudiger, Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen now appear certain to leave with their deals expiring in the summer, while experienced trio N’Golo Kante, Marcos Alonso and Jorginho have little more than 12 months to run on their contracts.

Mason Mount had been hoping to negotiate an improved contract, too, while the Daily Mail reports that Reece James is being eyed by Manchester City as a long-term replacement for Kyle Walker, with Real Madrid also interested.

The task of overseeing any negotiations would normally sit with Marina Granovskai, a key ally of Abramovich’s, but her own future remains a matter of intense speculation.

Chelsea are back in action on Sunday against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge with manager Thomas Tuchel confessing that the uncertainty surrounding the future of the club could be weighing heavy on the minds of the players.

‘Some players will feel uncertainty,’ he said. ‘Some maybe will be a bit