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Some big names have been left out of Chelsea’s US pre-season tour, with uncertainty over the futures of six players in particular.
The club have named a 28-man squad that will fly out to the United States, with their first game against Wrexham in California on Wednesday.Enzo Maresca’s side will then go on to face Celtic, Club America, Premier League rivals Manchester City, before concluding the tour with a game against Real Madrid in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 7.
Discounting the five players that had their international breaks extended and the injured Djordje Petrovic, there are 43 other players who have been left out of the squad for varying reasons.
But the omissions of Romelu Lukaku, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Trevoh Chalobah, Cesare Casadei, David Datro Fofana and Malang Sarr will continue to fuel the speculation that they could leave Stamford Bridge permanently this summer.
The six players arrived at Chelsea for a combined £190m – though Chalobah didn’t cost a penny as he came through the club’s academy, while Sarr joined as a free agent after his contract at Nice expired.
According to Transfermarkt, the Blues could be on to make a £120m loss on what they paid for Lukaku, Arrizabalaga, Fofana and Casadei collectively, with the quarter valued at a combined £70m.
Lukaku’s departure would be no great surprise, given his struggles since he returned to the club for £97.5m in 2021.
He has spent the last two seasons out on loan at Inter Milan and AS Roma, with the Blues desperate to move him on this summer.
A return to the Serie A could be on the cards with Napoli interested, given the uncertainty over the future of their striker Victor Osimhen, Arrizabalaga joined for £71m in 2018, and spent last season on loan at Real Madrid.
Mail Sport have reported that the Spaniard is expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, with Chelsea contacting Villarreal over their goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.
Perhaps the biggest surprise omission is that of Chalobah, who came through the club’s academy. The likes of Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi and new signing Tosin Adarabioyo are all preferred options as the right-sided centre-back and reports suggest the Blues are willing to sanction his departure.
Players on the chopping block
Romelu Lukaku: Signed for £97.5m – now worth £25m; Trevoh Chalobah: Came through the club’s academy – now worth £11m; Kepa Arrizabalaga: Signed for £71m – now worth £10m; David Datro Fofana: Signed for £8m – now worth £10m; Cesare Casadei: Signed for £12m – now worth £8.4m; Malang Sarr: Joined as a free agent – now worth £3.4m;TOTAL: £67.8million
(www.dailymail.co.uk)
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo