Chelsea squad number list hints three stars are set for transfers as No.9 shirt curse lives on

Chelsea’s squad number list for the forthcoming season has all-but confirmed the expected exits of three of the club’s stars. The Blues geared up for Sunday’s big kick-off against Liverpool by revealing a revamped list of squad numbers. Pochettino now knows what players he will have at his disposal this seasonGetty The most notable number changes include club record signing Enzo Fernandez who will wear the number eight shirt, while Mykhailo Mudryk takes number 10 and Raheem Sterling switches to seven. However, there are a host of names left off the list that suggest their futures at the club are in serious doubt. One of those is Callum Hudson-Odoi who has recently been subject of interest from both Fulham and Serie A side Lazio. The winger has failed to find his feet at Stamford Bridge despite Chelsea turning down a £70 million bid from Bayern Munich in 2020. Hakim Ziyech’s Chelsea nightmare has taken another turn after he was also left without a squad number. The Moroccan is keen to leave Stamford Bridge after falling out of favour last season. His failed loan switch to Paris Saint-Germain during the January transfer window further increased tensions but a move to Saudi Arabia may still materialise before the end of the summer window. The least surprising omission was that of striker Romelu Lukaku who could seal a move to Juventus this month. The £97.5m signing spent last season on loan at former club Inter Milan and despite his preference to remain at the San Siro, the Belgian appears to be nearing a switch to Turin. Much will depend on Juve offloading striker Dusan Vlahovic who is expected to be a target for Bayern Munich, if their pursuit of Harry Kane falls short. Lukaku’s second spell at Stamford Bridge has been a disasterAFP Hudson-Odoi looks set to move on from Stamford Bridge this summerGetty Ziyech’s days at Chelsea appear to be numberedGetty Lukaku relinquishes the No.9 jersey, recently viewed as a curse amongst Chelsea players due to the struggles past stars have encountered whilst donning the number. Former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel revealed that there was little demand for the number during his time at the club after the difficulties endured by Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao, Alvaro Morata and Gonzalo Higuain. “It’s cursed, it’s cursed, people tell me it’s cursed!” Tuchel joked. “It’s not the case that we leave it open for tactical reasons, or for some players in the pipeline that come in and naturally take it. “There was not a big demand for number nine, when players sometimes want to change numbers. But, surprisingly, nobody wants to touch it. “Everybody who is longer than me in the club tells me, ‘Ah, you know, he had the nine and he did not score and he had the nine and did also not score’. “So now we have a moment where nobody wants to touch the number nine.” talkSPORT football match centre Keep up-to-date with all the latest Chelsea fixtures and results and live Premier League standings in our new match centre. Chelsea fixtures for 2023/24 Chelsea results for 2023/24 Premier League fixtures and results Live Premier League table

Chelsea squad number list hints three stars are set for transfers as No.9 shirt curse lives on

Chelsea’s squad number list for the forthcoming season has all-but confirmed the expected exits of three of the club’s stars.

The Blues geared up for Sunday’s big kick-off against Liverpool by revealing a revamped list of squad numbers.

Pochettino now knows what players he will have at his disposal this season
Getty

The most notable number changes include club record signing Enzo Fernandez who will wear the number eight shirt, while Mykhailo Mudryk takes number 10 and Raheem Sterling switches to seven.

However, there are a host of names left off the list that suggest their futures at the club are in serious doubt.

One of those is Callum Hudson-Odoi who has recently been subject of interest from both Fulham and Serie A side Lazio.

The winger has failed to find his feet at Stamford Bridge despite Chelsea turning down a £70 million bid from Bayern Munich in 2020.

Hakim Ziyech’s Chelsea nightmare has taken another turn after he was also left without a squad number.

The Moroccan is keen to leave Stamford Bridge after falling out of favour last season.

His failed loan switch to Paris Saint-Germain during the January transfer window further increased tensions but a move to Saudi Arabia may still materialise before the end of the summer window.

The least surprising omission was that of striker Romelu Lukaku who could seal a move to Juventus this month.

The £97.5m signing spent last season on loan at former club Inter Milan and despite his preference to remain at the San Siro, the Belgian appears to be nearing a switch to Turin.

Much will depend on Juve offloading striker Dusan Vlahovic who is expected to be a target for Bayern Munich, if their pursuit of Harry Kane falls short.

Lukaku’s second spell at Stamford Bridge has been a disaster
AFP
Hudson-Odoi looks set to move on from Stamford Bridge this summer
Getty
Ziyech’s days at Chelsea appear to be numbered
Getty

Lukaku relinquishes the No.9 jersey, recently viewed as a curse amongst Chelsea players due to the struggles past stars have encountered whilst donning the number.

Former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel revealed that there was little demand for the number during his time at the club after the difficulties endured by Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao, Alvaro Morata and Gonzalo Higuain.

“It’s cursed, it’s cursed, people tell me it’s cursed!” Tuchel joked.

“It’s not the case that we leave it open for tactical reasons, or for some players in the pipeline that come in and naturally take it.

“There was not a big demand for number nine, when players sometimes want to change numbers. But, surprisingly, nobody wants to touch it.

“Everybody who is longer than me in the club tells me, ‘Ah, you know, he had the nine and he did not score and he had the nine and did also not score’.

“So now we have a moment where nobody wants to touch the number nine.”

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