Antonio Rudiger out, no Romelu Lukaku as Conor Gallagher, Armando Broja and Championship wonderkid to star for new-look Chelsea next season?

Sanctions placed on Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich have left the club in an uncertain position, and set to be sold.

Currently no signings or player sales can be made, while no new contracts can be offered to current stars or staff.

This means, as it stands, Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen will be leaving the club, along with youngster Xavier Simons.

The effect this season won’t be too harmful to the team right now but next season, even if a buyer is found and the club changes hands, money could be a lot tighter.

Several loan stars may now have be counted on at Stamford Bridge to make an impact as they attempt to compete without the finances they’re used to.

Conor Gallagher has thrilled out with Crystal Palace, earning comparisons to a current Blues superstar, and his success this seasons shows exactly why Chelsea fans needn’t be too worried about their on-pitch future.

“For me, Conor Gallagher is like N’Golo Kante with goals,” Tony Cascarino told talkSPORT in December.

“Kante is a brilliant player, he does so many good things for the side, but he has never got goals and I see that in Conor Gallagher.

The Albanian forward has netted nine goals in all competitions for Southampton and looks like a very promising centre-forward who can’t be bullied, even by the most experienced defenders in the division.

Meanwhile, in the Championship, young defender Levi Colwill has also been in fine form for Huddersfield Town.

A talented left-footed centre-back who is also capable of slotting in at full-back, he’d be a fine option on the left of a back-three under Tuchel.

Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour is another who has been out on loan – at Norwich – and could get chances, but right now Gallagher will be ahead of him in the pecking order.

But how might these starlets fit in, if required, in 2022/23?

How Chelsea could look next season…

Given the goalscoring form of Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku, it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see Broja up top alongside livewire Kai Havertz next year.

The German’s ability to play off a centre-forward but also get in behind a defence, like he did against Newcastle and more famously in the Champions League final, could see the Blues reap the rewards if Broja can contribute more goals than his two striking rivals, who cost a combined £145million.

Gallagher, meanwhile, could drop into a midfield three full of industry, allowing wing-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell more freedom to get up the pitch.

Both Jorginho and Kante are entering the final year of their contracts so they may be set for a battle to be the man at the base of the midfield.

Meanwhile, although Rudiger, Christensen and Azpilicueta leaving will take away their depth in defence, the Blues can still include Colwill with experienced Thiago Silva alongside him and the promising Trevoh Chalobah on the right of the triumvirate in front of Edouard Mendy.