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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Alan Smith

Graham Potter headache as 5 Chelsea signings must be left out of Champions League squad

A transfer window like no other has drawn to a close, leaving Graham Potter facing the unenviable task of finding his best team.

Chelsea, who have spent more than £600m in two transfer windows and £320m in January, have a bloated squad full of stars who believe they must be playing. Yet in the Champions League, at least five of the eight January arrivals will not even be in the squad to face Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16 in two weeks’ time.

UEFA rules mean only three senior players can be added to the 25-man A list - regardless of whether players who were involved in the group stage have left the club.

No one is cup-tied and regardless of Jorginho's departure to Arsenal freeing up one spot, Potter must decide which three new arrivals to register. The deadline to submit his squad ahead of the first leg in Germany is on Thursday.

Youngsters Andrey Santos, a central midfielder from Vasco da Gama, and David Datro Fofana, a striker from Molde, are obvious candidates to be omitted. So too is teenage right back Malo Gusto, a £26.5m arrival from Lyon, and winger Noni Madueke, who cost £30m from PSV Eindhoven, because of the existing senior options available.

But that still leaves four big-money arrivals, and one must be omitted. Enzo Fernandez, the final arrival for a British-record £105m fee from Benfica, must be included.

Mykhaylo Mudryk impressed on his debut against Liverpool (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

It is not a decision based on price but the next most expensive signing, Mykhaylo Mudryk, will be registered. The winger impressed on his debut after signing for £88m, including add-ons, from Shakhtar Donetsk and, in Potter’s own words, can bring excitement to an attack that has lacked fluency.

This means a toss-up between Benoit Badiashile, a centre back signed from Monaco who has impressed in his first couple of starts, and loan arrival Joao Felix, who did well on debut before being sent off for a daft, high tackle.

Which players should Graham Potter leave out of Chelsea's Champions League squad? Have your say in the comments!

Benoit Badiashile may be told he has to sit out Champions League action this season (Getty Images)

Felix appears more likely to get the final spot because there are fewer centre-forward options compared to centre-backs. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was unable to leave the club because of FIFA transfer regulations prohibiting him from playing for a third club in one season and Armando Broja is out for the season with injury.

Badiashile appears likely to continue in the starting XI in the league, ahead of a struggling Kalidou Koulibaly, but the 21-year-old may be told he must sit out European action.

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