Tuesday 23/07/2024
Chelsea is facing a summer of departures as numerous names are on the list of those needing to be sold.
Several big names at Chelsea have been left out of the pre-season tour in the US, notably due to uncertainty surrounding the futures of six players.
The club has listed 28 players to fly to the US, with the first match set for Wednesday against Wrexham in California.
Lukaku is on his way back to Serie A, with interest from Napoli. Enzo Maresca’s team will then face Celtic, Club America, and Manchester City, before concluding the tour with a match against Real Madrid in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 7.
Aside from five players allowed to rest longer after the EURO, Copa America, and Djordje Petrovic being injured, another 43 players have been excluded from the team for various reasons.
As a result, the absence of Romelu Lukaku, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Trevoh Chalobah, Cesare Casadei, David Datro Fofana, and Malang Sarr will continue to fuel speculation that they may leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
These six players joined Chelsea for up to £190 million, although Chalobah is an academy player and Sarr joined as a free agent after his contract with Nice expired.
According to Transfermarkt, The Blues could lose £120 million compared to the amount they paid for Lukaku, Arrizabalaga, Fofana, and Casadei, as their current combined value is only £70 million.
Lukaku’s departure is beyond doubt. A return to Serie A could be in the Belgian striker’s plans, with Napoli interested and Victor Osimhen potentially moving in the opposite direction.
Chelsea is restructuring its squad and is ready to offload several players. Arrizabalaga joined Real Madrid for £71 million in 2018 and spent last season on loan at Real Madrid. Mail Sport reports that the Spanish goalkeeper is expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
Chalobah is a rather unfortunate case as he is an academy player. However, Chelsea’s current central defender positions include Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi, and new signing Tosin Adarabioyo.
On the other hand, David Datro Fofana spent last season on loan at Union Berlin and Burnley, and he may leave after making just four appearances for The Blues.
Meanwhile, Sarr has not played for The Blues since the 2021-22 season and is truly surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.
Casadei, who spent last season on loan at Leicester City, could also be sold if Chelsea receives a reasonable offer.
Things will remain volatile with the form or injuries of players during the pre-season phase. But for Chelsea right now, they have a massive squad, and just a nod can instantly pocket The Blues several million pounds to reinvest.