Why Chelsea have expressed ’emerging concerns’ after Man United & Man City transfer dealings

There are emerging concerns at Chelsea that they have strengthened Premier League rivals Manchester United and Manchester City after their recent transfer dealings, according to reports.

Recent transfer windows have seen the Blues bolster their squad with an array of new faces, but this summer has seen a number of players leave west London to begin new challenges.

The clear out is well and truly in motion as Chelsea look to rebuild and restructure their squad for the 2023/24 Premier League season which gets underway next month.

After a dismal campaign which saw the Blues finish 12th in the league last time out, head coach Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping to turn around their fate with the squad of players he has available.

One of the big areas that has seen a lot of departures this window is in midfield. N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have departed for Saudi Arabia and Italy respectively, but some have made the switch to other English clubs.

READ MORE: Revealed: Why Chelsea’s transfer swoop for Moises Caicedo has moved ‘slowly’ amid Brighton’s £100m stance

Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic completed a move to Manchester City and academy graduate Mason Mount left for Manchester United in a deal worth up to £60 million. Kai Havertz also made the move to London rivals Arsenal.

As reported by Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, there are ’emerging concerns’ at Chelsea that as well as weakening their own side, they are strengthening their direct rivals too frequently.

While they did get a large sum of money for these two players, the Blues could regret selling two of their first-choice midfielders in recent years.

They are yet to really replace their losses and the season is drawing closer, they have been pursuing Brighton & Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo, but the Seagulls value the Ecuadorian midfielder at £100 million. Two bids have already been rejected.

Conor Gallagher has also been linked with a move away, but Chelsea would be reluctant to sell the 23-year-old, who netted the third goal in the Blues’ 5-0 win to start pre-season against Wrexham.

READ MORE: Chelsea 5-0 Wrexham: Maatsen, Gallagher, Nkunku & Chilwell begin Pochettino era with pre-season

The contest also saw young midfielders Cesare Casadei, Andrey Santos and Lewis Hall given the opportunity to show their talents in the middle of the park.

This season may see them handed more chances in the first-team due to Chelsea’s sale of players such as Mount and Kovacic.