Top 7 highest paid Chelsea players so far in 2018

The 2017-18 season was an abysmal one in retrospect for the 6 time Premier League winners, despite ending it on a high note as they clinched the FA Cup title after trumping Manchester United in a razor thin victory.

As a result, the club has undergone massive changes over the course of the ongoing transfer market. Antonio Conte has been shown the door, Maurizio Sarri has taken up the managerial position, and Jorginho has been signed for €57m.

The Pensioners are currently on the prowl for more top quality players who boast the potential to thrive under the tutelage of Maurizio Sarri, and one significant lure that can enable the club convince a footballer into signing a deal is the astronomical amount of wage they can offer.

Needless to say, Chelsea is a high profile club playing in arguably the most lucrative league on Earth, which is why they are expected to pay exorbitant wages per week to their roster.

So without further ado, let us take a closer look at the top 7 highest paid Chelsea players in 2018.

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#7 Thibaut Courtois - £120,000 per week

Courtois is a brick wall at Chelsea

In the past few years, Courtois has stamped his authority as one of the finest goalkeepers in the footballing world. The Belgian was particularly excellent at the recently concluded World Cup where he won the Golden Glove award courtesy of the 27 saves he made, the most by any shot stopper.

Lately he has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid who have been keeping close tabs on him. The 26 year old has expressed his desire to move to the Spanish capital.

The only thing is that my children live in Madrid. I would like them to be close.

Courtois has only got 12 months left on his contract with Chelsea and this is why the boardroom could view this as the ideal chance to cash in on him.

Stats courtesy: sillyseason

#6 Olivier Giroud - £120,000 per week

Giroud - World Cup champion!

Olivier Giroud was signed by The Pensioners in January 2018 from Arsenal for £15.3m on an 18 month contract.

Since his arrival, the Frenchman has notched 5 goals for the club in 18 outings so far. With rumors of Alvaro Morata's departure making the rounds, Giroud could prove to be an instrumental figure in Chelsea's campaign next season.

The 31 year old will begin the season on the back of a splendid World Cup success with the French national team.

#5 David Luiz - £120,000 per week

David Luiz - Samba Boy

David Luiz enjoyed a stellar first season with Chelsea after joining them in August 2016 as he inspired The Blues to the Premier League title. However, a falling out with the erstwhile Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and an injury setback ruined the 2017-18 season for him.

He only managed 17 appearances in the entirety of the season, and remained out of favor. Nevertheless, Conte's departure gives him a new lease of life and presents him with a golden opportunity to live up to his billing after missing out on Brazil's final 23 man squad for Russia.

#4 N'Golo Kanté - £120,000 per week

N'Golo! - solid

He is short, he is nice, he’s the one who stopped Leo Messi, but we all know he's a cheater at cards, N'Golo Kante!

N'Golo Kante is one of the most industrious footballers in modern football, with a work rate that is almost inimitable. Yet he is arguably one of the unsung heroes for his team.

By virtue of his exploits in Russia, he has turned the heads of several top notch European clubs who are craving for his signature. All the same, Chelsea will be reluctant to let him go as he will be the kingpin of Sarri's possession based system.

#3 Willian - £120,000 per week

Willian - speedster

Willian has long been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, and the disinclination evinced by Chelsea to sell him just goes to show how pivotal he is for The Blues' success.

Under Maurizio Sarri's system, the Brazilian is predicted to be awarded a much more decisive role on the right flank. After all, he has the flair to bench both Moses and Pedro, who will watch him from the sidelines slalom past defenders with consummate ease in all likelihood.

Last season, he registered 13 goals for Chelsea and orchestrated a further 12 for his team-mates.

#2 Danny Drinkwater - £120,000 per week

Drinkwater

It's astounding to see Chelsea fork out £120,000 every week for a player who is not a regular starter for the club, and has a bleak future under the new manager.

With Jorginho's acquisition, Drinkwater's position has been placed in jeopardy as he will face cut-throat competition for game time with the likes of Fabregas, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Barkley, Bakayoko and of course - N'Golo Kante.

As such, he will find opportunities under Sarri hard to come by and should probably opt for a switch to a new club.

#1 Eden Hazard - £200,000 per week

Hazard - maestro!

Eden Hazard is rightfully Chelsea's highest paid player presently, with an eye watering weekly wage of £200,000.

The linchpin of Chelsea's squad, the Belgian is an immensely gifted footballer who is being intensely pursued by Los Blancos following Cristiano Ronaldo's sensational move to Juventus.

Valued at £108 million on Transfermarkt, Hazard's transfer, if completed, could go on to break a host of records in the already inflated transfer market.