Chelsea are reluctant to say goodbye to their defender despite having to sell players

Chelsea's dire financial state may prompt the "pensioners" to stage a significant squad sale, but one of the players at Stamford Bridge will be trying to hold on at all costs.

ESPN has learnt that Mauricio Pochettino's team have no intention of letting defender Reece James leave, even despite the pressure created by the likelihood of failing to meet the financial rules of the English Premier League and UEFA.

Just how selling the 24-year-old defender, who is a club-recruit and the proceeds would be Chelsea's net profit, could help with that, with Real Madrid and PSG showing interest in James. It remains to be seen whether the Pensioners will be so persuasive from now on, and whether they can resist a tempting offer from a top club.