Malang Sarr to seal Chelsea exit in coming days?

The 24-year-old has been ostracised from the squad since Mauricio Pochettino's arrival, although Thomas Tuchel was not fully convinced by his qualities either.

Sarr was loaned out to Ligue 1 side Monaco for the 2022-23 season, but he failed to make the grade in the Principality either, only making 17 appearances for the Monegasques and failing to score or assist.

Sarr was limited to just eight starts in the French top flight and a further three in the Europa League, although a muscular problem saw him miss the final two months of the season.

Since returning to Stamford Bridge, Sarr has unsurprisingly not been reintegrated into the squad under Pochettino, who was asked about the defender's future earlier this summer.

The Argentine appeared bewildered by the question, leading some fans to speculate that he was unaware of who Sarr was, as he responded: "Who?'

"Oh my goodness. I don't know what I can tell you. I don't know because you surprised me! It's like you punch [me in the face] and I am like this [startled]. Because we were talking about Luton!"

With his contract expiring in 2025 and no renewal in sight, Football Insider claims that Chelsea are hopeful of offloading Sarr in the coming days, as a handful of European transfer windows are still open for business.

Turkish Super Lig clubs are able to sign new players until Friday, and the report adds that several unnamed teams in the region are keeping an eye on the situation.

Other potential options for Sarr include a move to Russia - where the transfer window closes on Thursday - or Qatar, where Stars League clubs can still add fresh faces until the 18th.

Pochettino is said to have given the green light to Sarr's exit, and the former France Under-21 international has been informed that he has no future at Stamford Bridge.

Sarr left Nice on a free transfer in 2020 to sign for Chelsea, who loaned him out to Portuguese giants Porto before he was integrated into the first team under Tuchel.

During the 2021-22 campaign, the defender turned out 21 times for the Blues in all competitions, playing as a left-back and centre-back, but he was only named in six Premier League starting lineups.

Sarr did start in every EFL Cup game from the third round to the semi-finals for Tuchel's side, but he was dropped to the bench for their final defeat to Liverpool, and an identical fate befell him in the FA Cup.

Kalidou Koulibaly and Cesar Azpilicueta have already departed West London this summer, but Trevoh Chalobah remained at the club amid interest from Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.