Chelsea Announces Pre-Season Tour Squad: Notable Omissions of Chalobah and Gilchrist
Chelsea has revealed the roster for their pre-season tour in the United States, and two notable players, Trevoh Chalobah and Alfie Gilchrist, have been excluded from the list by Enzo Maresca.
Both Chalobah and Gilchrist played roles for Chelsea in the previous season, with Mauricio Pochettino relying on them at various points during the campaign.
Gilchrist participated in 11 Premier League games after making his senior debut under the Argentine manager against Crystal Palace in December.
The 2023/24 season was crucial for the 20-year-old defender, who is now expected to go out on loan to further his development.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Gilchrist has received loan offers from Preston and Sheffield United for the upcoming season. He will choose his preferred destination in the coming days, which explains why he hasn’t been included in Chelsea’s pre-season tour squad.
Chalobah’s situation is different, as his departure from Chelsea has seemed inevitable for some time now.
Chalobah has been informed that he will remain in London while the rest of the Chelsea team travels to the U.S., as the club believes they have enough defensive options with Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi, and Tosin Adarabioyo, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Chelsea will also take 18-year-old Josh Acheampong to America, as Maresca intends to use the tour to assess the young defender’s potential.
This decision regarding Chalobah indicates that the center-back is set to leave Chelsea this summer, especially since he has regained fitness compared to the January transfer window.
The 25-year-old made 17 appearances for Chelsea last season, ending as a regular starter, which would have allowed interested clubs to evaluate his abilities ahead of the summer transfer window.
Chelsea Announces Pre-Season Tour Squad: Notable Omissions of Chalobah and Gilchrist