Fabrizio Romano claims Chelsea had the chance to sell £250k-a-week player

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Chelsea had the chance to sell one of their key players in the past but were against the idea.

In recent transfer windows, Chelsea have let some big players go. During the summer, Raheem Sterling and Conor Gallagher both left the club, for example.

Last year, the Blues also sold Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic, while N’Golo Kante was allowed to leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer.

Reece James, who was part of Chelsea’s Champions League-winning team in 2021 alongside the likes of Mount, Havertz, Kovacic and Kante, has been linked to Real Madrid, but he has remained in west London. Chelsea are still in love with James despite all of his injury problems.

• READ MORE: Tony Cascarino ‘really’ concerned about what’s happening with Reece James’ injury

Chelsea had the chance to sell Reece James

While James may be a player who is on Real Madrid’s radar, it does not look like Chelsea will allow him to leave the club.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have had the chance to sell the right-back in the past but opted not to.

Speaking about James on his YouTube channel, the transfer expert said: “We always heard many stories on Real Madrid in recent years and more clubs, but if Chelsea even wanted to consider the exit of Reece James, they had the possibility to do so in the past and they never wanted [to].”

Enzo Fernandez is excited about the possibility of James returning soon, expressing that on the injured defender’s Instagram. James currently earns £250,000 a week at Chelsea, according to Spotrac.

Reece James return date

While James is hoping to return to action soon, Enzo Maresca is yet to give a date for when the 24-year-old could be available again.

The Italian at least has Malo Gusto back in his squad, with the Frenchman having picked up a minor injury last month.

He played the full 90 minutes of Chelsea’s 4-2 win against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend and will be expected to start on Sunday when Maresca’s men welcome Nottingham Forest to Stamford Bridge.

Before then, the Blues take on Gent in the Conference League in a game where you would expect Gusto to be rested. If so, then Axel Disasi is likely to come in for the 21-year-old, already playing at right-back a few times this season.