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'Slipped through the net' – Gary Lineker claims £12m player sale is one of Chelsea’s biggest regrets

Originally posted on Chelsea News | By Charlie Patrick | Last updated Oct 18, 2025 9:58 AM ET

Gary Lineker has been speaking about Chelsea and he’s revealed what he thinks one of the club’s biggest regrets might be.

Like all clubs, Chelsea have made a number of high profile errors in the transfer market with both buying and selling players.

However, there have been a number of success stories including the likes of Cole Palmer, Cesar Azpilicueta, Eden Hazard and Frank Lampard.

Gary Lineker claims £12m sale is Chelsea biggest regret

The Blues have a reputation of being one of the best selling clubs in football, and each summer it seems a number of players have moved on.

Chelsea have got great deals for players like Mason Mount and Kai Havertz, but there’s other you look back on with regret.

It’s easy to forget Chelsea had Mohammed Salah on their books, but they sold the Egyptian to Roma for £12m in 2016, and Lineker feels that’s one of their biggest regrets.

“And one of those was Chelsea. Now, Chelsea’s probably the one part of his (Salah’s) career where it didn’t quite happen for him,” he told The Rest Is Football.

“I think[Jose] Mourinho also had [Kevin] De Bruyne at a similar sort of time, didn’t he?

“And both of those slipped through the net, didn’t they? I’m sure with big regrets from Chelsea’s side. I think it was Mourinho in charge at that moment.”

Mohamed Salah struggled at Chelsea

Chelsea is the only club where Salah has struggled and he only made 19 appearances for the Blues, before establishing himself at Roma.

Salah didn’t show much at Chelsea and it was understandable why the club decided to sell him, but of course looking back there’s regret.

John Terry has spoken of regret about the Salah and Kevin De Bruyne situation at the club, and Chelsea will be desperate to avoid any repeats in the future.

This article first appeared on Chelsea News and was syndicated with permission.

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