A number of big names have been left out of Chelsea’s US pre-season tour, with the futures of six players in particular uncertain.
The club have named a squad of 28 players who will fly to the United States for their opening match against Wrexham in California on Wednesday.
Enzo Maresca’s team will next take on Celtic, Club America and Premier League rivals Manchester City, before concluding the tour with a match against Real Madrid in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 7.
If we exclude the five players whose international spell was extended and the injured Djordje Petrovic, there are 43 other players who are not in the squad for various reasons.
But the omissions of Romelu Lukaku, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Trevoh Chalobah, Cesare Casadei, David Datro Fofana and Malang Sarr continue to fuel speculation they could leave Stamford Bridge for good this summer.
Enzo Maresca has left some big names out of his squad, creating uncertainty over their future
Chelsea’s £97.5million signing Romelu Lukaku is widely expected to leave after a two-year loan absence
Trevoh Chalobah (left) is the surprise name that wasn’t mentioned and may now leave
Cesare Casadei and David Datro Fofana are among the other big names not in the squad
The six players joined Chelsea for a combined fee of £190million, although Chalobah cost next to nothing as he came through the club’s youth system, while Sarr left as a free agent after his contract with Nice expired.
According to Transfer marketThe Blues could make a loss of £120m on what they paid collectively for Lukaku, Arrizabalaga, Fofana and Casadei, with the quarter worth a combined £70m.
Lukaku’s departure would not come as a huge surprise given the struggles he has faced since returning to the club for £97.5million in 2021.
He has spent the last two seasons on loan at Internazionale and AS Roma, but this summer the Blues are keen to let him go.
A return to Serie A could be on the cards with Napoli interested given the uncertainty surrounding the future of their striker Victor Osimhen.
Arrizabalaga joined Real Madrid in 2018 for £71million and spent last season on loan.
According to Mail Sport, the Spaniard is expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer as Chelsea have contacted Villarreal over their goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is the absence of Chalobah, who came through the club’s youth academy.
The likes of Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi and new signing Tosin Adarabioyo are all favoured for the right-footed centre-back, with reports suggesting the Blues are willing to accept his departure.
David Datro Fofana spent last season on loan at Union Berlin and Burnley and could leave after making just four appearances for the Blues.
Armando Broja has made the 28-man squad but is expected to leave the club this summer
Four goalkeepers have been selected over Kepa Arrizabalga, with Chelsea considering a move for another goalkeeper this summer
Malang Sarr (pictured in 2022) trained with the under-21 team last season after a loan deal fell through
Sarr has not played for the Blues since the 2021-22 season and trained with the Under-21s last season after a loan move to Le Havre fell through.
Casadei, who spent last season on loan at Leicester City, could also be sold if an acceptable offer is received.
Armando Broja may have been part of the 28-man squad, but he is also a player who is reportedly set to be released.
Most of the other players Chelsea did not include were players in their youth academy.
Omari Kellyman and Caleb Wiley both joined the club this summer. The former stayed home to focus on recovering from an injury, while Wiley – along with goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina – is part of the US team that will compete in the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.
Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer have been given an extended break as they represent their countries in the final stages of Euro 2024 and the Copa America.
The upcoming tour could yield debut albums from artists such as Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Vega and Marc Guiu, all of whom have already made it.
Chelsea fans were unhappy with Chalobah’s exclusion and took to social media to vent their anger.
Tosin Adarabioyo is among a list of Chelsea summer signings set to play in the Premier League in the future.
Omari Kellyman (pictured) has been sidelined as he recovers from an injury, while Caleb Wiley is part of the US team for the Olympic Games in Paris.
‘Selling Trevoh Chalobah makes no sense,’ wrote one X account. ‘He talks on the pitch and somehow that’s not enough.’
Another shared footage of Chalobah’s memorable goal against Crystal Palace on his Premier League debut and said: ‘Look what it means to score for your boyhood club! Trevoh Chalobah deserves so much more respect.
“Some in the club need to be reminded of this. There is no way to treat one of your own people.”