Graham Potter admits Chelsea could be forced to sell high-profile players this summer

Graham Potter admitted on Friday that Chelsea will almost certainly have to sell players to opposing clubs this summer.

The Blues have the biggest squad in the Premier League but with losses of £120million and the prospect of no European football next season, stars will need to be sacked to comply with financial fair play rules.

Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic still have to sign new contracts and are wanted by former coach Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich. Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic could also be put up for sale while Newcastle keep their eyes on Conor Gallagher.

Liverpool are also keen on Mount and while Potter wants to keep the England star and Kovacic, it’s out of his hands.

“That’s the challenge we have,” said the Chelsea manager. “We have a big squad, a deep squad with a lot of really good players. These things are really complicated because it’s not about my opinion. It’s about the player, the club, a lot of things that I can’t control.

Graham Potter admitted Chelsea could be forced to sell high-profile stars this summer

Mason Mount (L) and Mateo Kovacic (R) have both been linked with a move from Chelsea

“I can only voice my opinion of Mason as a footballer and as a person and I only have positive things to say about him.

“I also have a lot of respect for Mateo as a person. He plays a role for the team and was also captain. But it’s between Mateo and the club.

“It’s never an ideal world and you deal with what you have to deal with over the summer and you make decisions.

“You do your business like everyone else and accept that you have to do what is right for this football club and not worry about anyone else.” The 47-year-old has revealed he is in the dark about the future of Romelu Lukaku, who is on loan at Inter Milan and reportedly wants to stay in Italy.

Potter, however, said he would love the opportunity to work with the Belgium forward, who cost the Blues a then-club-record £97.5million before being sacked after a row with Tuchel last year.

“He has to finish the season well and then we have to make a decision,” Potter said.

“He’s someone I like a lot and admire a lot, but that’s something we’ll have to talk about over the summer.”

Potter said he admires the players and seemed to imply that sales aren’t personal