Chelsea's season is not far away from ending but things at Stamford Bridge and Cobham will only get busier behind the scenes ahead of pre-season

In many senses, Chelsea's season is already finished and there isn't much left to play for after Real Madrid eliminated them from the Champions League. The Blues still have two games left to play, though, as they take on Newcastle and Manchester United, two more top-four opponents.

The team will already be focusing a lot of emphasis on the upcoming season. The squad will be reduced to a more manageable size following this season's incoming transfers, and Mauricio Pochettino is expected to be hired at Stamford Bridge.

That process is not far away from the beginning. Joao Felix and Denis Zakaria reach their last possibilities for playing time before the end of their respective loans and final decisions on a number of out-of-contract stars await.

Last term, it was on June 10th that Chelsea announced their released and retained lists and confirmed the departures of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Danny Drinkwater, Charly Musonda and Jake Clarke-Salter. If that date is repeated, it is less than two weeks following the end of the season.

N'Golo Kante is the most high-profile Chelsea star whose contract is currently set to expire. As far back as February it seemed the Frenchman was set to sign but there has been no announcement of an agreement forthcoming.

Dujon Sterling is expected to depart the club for a move to Rangers having spent the year with Hull. The defender spent some time with Chelsea's first team but did not travel to the USA on pre-season tour and suffered an injury that disrupted his summer before moving to the Potteries.

There will be no shortage of decisions made with regard to development squad prospects too. Tudor Mendel-Idowu and Malik Mothersille are expected to leave the club at the end of their deals as things stand while Derrick Abu has trialled with Crystal Palace. Ethan Wady, who made the bench against Man City, Josh Brooking, Joe Haigh, Bryan Fiabema and Jayden Wareham will also currently see their deals expire.