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.
Enzo Maresca has left some big names out of his squad raising uncertainty over their future
Chelsea’s £97.5m signing Romelu Lukaku is widely expected to leave after two years away on loan
Trevoh Chalobah (left) is the surprise name left out and now could be set to leave
Cesare Casadei and David Datro Fofana are among other big names left out of the squad
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…