Chelsea have announced their 29-man squad ahead of the pre-season tour of America. The Blues and their head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, depart for the United States ahead of matches against Wrexham, Brighton, Fulham and Borussia Dortmund....CONTINUE READING
Having sold or released more than ten members of their first-team squad from last season, Chelsea are taking a young group of players with them to America as they prepare for the 2023/24 season under new management. Summer signings Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku have been included in the touring party, as have a host of young stars.
Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Armando Broja and Marcus Bettinelli were all left out with injuries being assessed while recovery is planned. Reece James reported as ill and did not travel out of precaution, the club say.
Chelsea have welcomed back a group of returning loanees ready to prove their worth to Pochettino and the Argentine has granted them a chance to impress. Levi Colwill, Ian Maatsen and Andrey Santos have all been selected for the tour while Callum Hudson-Odoi has been left out.
The winger spent last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen and failed to make the desired impact. He is now set for a move away from the club with Fulham and Nottingham Forest amongst the interest clubs. Elsewhere, there was no place for Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The trio are all surplus to requirements and had been granted extra time away from Cobham in order to find a move away. Lukaku has been at the centre of the most attention with large wages to shift and a hefty price tag still on his head. The Belgian isn’t expected to be part of Pochettino’s plans next season but has so far been unable to find a new home.
Inter have now reportedly dropped out of the running for him, leaving Juventus of a move to Saudi Arabia on the cards. Ziyech himself was close to a transfer to the Saudi Pro League before issues in his medical delayed such a deal.
Badiashile misses out with the hamstring injury he picked up towards the end of last season. football.london understands that Badiashile is targeting the start of the new campaign for when he returns to action as he continues to do gym work behind the scenes at Cobham to ensure just that.
There was no room for fellow Under-21 starlet Omari Hutchinson or Harvey Vale as they miss out on selection with the expectation that both players find a loan to aid their development. Cesare Casadei has been given a chance to show himself to Pochettino in action despite heavy links to Leicester.
Academy duo Bashir Humphreys and Alfie Gilchrist are in the group after training for the past fortnight in Surrey, as Malo Gusto following his own return from loan at Lyon in the second half of the season.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Eddie Beach is included in the squad. football.london understands the Blues have decided to keep the youngster around the first team before assessing his situation in January.
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Gabriel Slonina, Eddie Beach, Jamie Cumming, Lucas Bergstrom,
Defenders: Thiago Silva, Malo Gusto, Alfie Gilchrist, Bashir Humphreys, Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella, Ian Maatsen, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill
Midfielders: Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez, Andrey Santos, Cesare Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lewis Hall
Forwards. Nicolas Jackson, Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku, Mason Burstow, Diego Moreira, Angelo Gabriel, Dujuan Richards (training only)….READFULL
