The UK government confirmed yesterday that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned due to his links with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
This means that the billionaire’s sale of the club will now be put on hold, while he is also unable to make any profits from the Premier League club - meaning they can’t sell tickets, sign players or offer new contracts.
Chelsea have a number of players - including some of their main stars - out of contract this summer and could face losing them for nothing if Abramovich still remains at the club.
Here are eight players the Blues could see depart at the end of the season...
1. Jake Clarke-Salter
Jake Clarke-Salter is currently on loan at Coventry City - his sixth loan spell away from Stamford Bridge in 14 years with the club. It had looked likely that the 24-year-old would leave the club permanently this summer anyway. | Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
2. Charly Musonda
After recovering from a posterior cruciate ligament injury, Musonda was demoted to the U23 squad. In November, the 25-year-old confirmed he would leave Chelsea once his contract expired at the end of the season. | Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
3. Baba Rahman
Baba Rahman joined Chelsea in 2015 but has had six loan spells away since and is currently at Reading. The 27-year-old has only made 21 appearances for the Blues. | Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images
4. Danny Drinkwater
Danny Drinkwater’s 2017 move to Chelsea was a disaster and his loan spells away since haven’t been too successful either. It was very unlikely that the 32-year-old would have been offered a new contract at Stamford Bridge anyway. | Visionhaus/Getty Images