SLING THE BLUES

Kovacic, Havertz and Kante first out the door

- MIKE WALTERS

CHELSEA have launched the most expensive clearout in English football history – and the £100m they have recouped in a single day is just for starters.

After agreeing a £65m fee to sell striker Kai Havertz to Arsenal and a £30m deal with Treble winners Manchester City for midfielder Mateo Kovacic, the Blues confirmed N’Golo Kante (below) will join Saudi club Al-Ittihad when his contract expires next week.

Manchester United are stepping up the £50m chase for England midfielder Mason Mount, whose deal at Stamford Bridge has only 12 months left.

And Chelsea misfits Romelu Lukaku, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have all been linked with moves to the money-no-object Gulf state.