Chelsea prepared to end 24-year transfer rule for £120m worth of talent

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca could see the club break a long-standing tradition in the transfer window this summer (Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Chelsea could be prepared to break their long-standing rule in the transfer market, with the club reportedly open to selling players to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Blues face a busy end to the window, still looking to offload several stars deemed surplus to requirements. They've already collected impressive fees for Carney Chukwuemeka, Renato Veiga and several others this month, but plenty more futures need to be resolved before deadline day.

Nicolas Jackson and Christoper Nkunku are two of the first-team stars that Chelsea are looking to axe before adding to Enzo Maresca’s squad, with RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons keen on a move to Stamford Bridge . Nkunku has attracted interest from Leipzig and Bayern Munich, with Jackson also reported to be closing in on a loan deal to Bayern .

However, Chelsea are claimed to regard no club off-limits when it comes to selling players, potentially opening the door to doing a deal with Spurs for the first time since 2001. The Daily Mail reports that while Chelsea once refused to do transfer business with their London rivals, that is no longer the case.

The club's preference is not to sell to a competitor, but it is suggested that Chelsea would be open to talks with Tottenham, who have been tentatively linked with Jackson and Nkunku this summer. The same report states that Chelsea value Jackson at £80million while Nkunku is priced at £40m. However, it remains to be seen whether clubs will be willing to meet their respective asking prices.

The last player Chelsea sold directly to Spurs was Gus Poyet, who joined Tottenham for around £2.2m in 2001. He won the Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FA Cup during his four years at Stamford Bridge before ending his career with a three-year stint at Spurs.

Gus Poyet scored 49 goals in 145 games for Chelsea (Image: Mike Hewitt /Allsport)

Former goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini joined Spurs in January 2009, but was allowed to move as a free agent after spending close to a decade at Chelsea, negating the need for the clubs to engage in direct business. Frode Grodas and Jason Cundy are the only other Chelsea players to have been sold to Spurs in the Premier League era. In terms of moving in the opposite direction, Chelsea have not bought a Spurs player since signing Micky Hazard in 1985.

Despite their previous reluctance to help Spurs, the Blues sold both Noni Madueke and Kepa Arrizabalaga to fellow rival Arsenal this summer, having sanctioned similar moves for Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz in recent years. Fulham have also seen the likes of Armando Broja and Ruben Loftus-Cheek arrive on loan from Stamford Bridge in the past.

Back in the present day, Jackson has reportedly reached an agreement over a loan move to Bayern , according to German outlet BILD . The striker has fallen down the pecking order following the signings of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, with Aston Villa and Newcastle United previously credited with interest in the forward.

Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku have both been linked with moves away from Chelsea (Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Nkunku is also expected to leave the club this summer, given the arrivals of Jamie Gittens and Estevao in forward positions, combined with Chelsea’s interest in Simons and Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho. The 27-year-old made 48 appearances for Maresca’s side last term and the manager recently provided an update on Nkunku and Jackson’s situations.

"Christo is with us like Nico, but it’s the same answer as Nico,” Maresca explained. “We'll see if they're going to be here. It's always better if they find a solution, as they are going to be more happy - and the club the same.

"But you need someone that is going to buy you. It's not so easy." Meanwhile, Chelsea are also seeking destinations for Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, David Datro Fofana and Alfie Gilchrist. All these players spent time away on loan last season, but Chelsea are claimed to largely favour permanent exits.