Chelsea star wants to quit after just one year at the club

The transfer window officially opened on Wednesday morning, meaning that Premier League teams can now complete signings. 

A number of high profile players have already been linked with big money moves, including the likes of Harry Kane, Mason Mount and Harry Maguire.

Chelsea will likely be one of the busiest Premier League clubs in the coming weeks, with incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino tasked with trimming the inflated squad that he has inherited.

Since taking charge of the club last summer, new owner Todd Boehly has spent more than £500 million on new signings, leaving a huge playing squad.

Pochettino will be keen to move certain players on in order to allow for new signings, and it appears that one of the Blues’ current stars now wants to depart the club.

According to Football Insider, defender Kalidou Koulibaly is keen to leave Stamford Bridge just one year after moving to west London.

The Senegal international arrived at Chelsea from Napoli last summer in a deal worth a reported £33 million, ending an eight-year spell with the Italian club.

Since arriving in England, though, the centre-back has struggled for consistency and has been criticised for some of his performances.

Koulibaly could depart Chelsea after just one season with the club

Now, the central defender is keen to return to Italy this summer, the report claims.

This term, the 31-year-old made 32 appearances across all competitions for the Blues, including 23 in the Premier League.

During his time in Naples, the Senegalese defender made 317 appearances, winning the Italian Cup and Italian Super Cup during his spell.

Pochettino is likely to allow at least one central defender to leave the club this summer, although Englishman Trevoh Chalobah has also been heavily linked with a move to Italy amid reported interest from Champions League runners-up Inter Milan.

It is also claimed that Chelsea could even use Koulibaly, Chalobah and loanee Romelu Lukaku in a bid to agree a deal for current Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Lukaku joined the Blues from Inter in 2021 but returned to the Italian outfit last summer on a season-long loan deal having failed to impress in London.