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. 

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. 

David Datro Fofana spent last season on loan at Union Berlin and Burnley, and could be set to leave after making only four appearances for the Blues.  

Sarr has not featured for the Blues since the 2021-22 season and spent last season training with the Under 21s after a loan move to Le Havre fell through. 

Casadei, who spent last season on loan at Leicester City, could also be sold if an acceptable offer is received.  

Armando Broja did make the 28-man squad, though he is another player who could reportedly be on the chopping block.

The majority of the other players that Chelsea did not include were players in their youth ranks. 

Omari Kellyman and Caleb Wiley both joined the club this summer, with the former staying at home to focus on recovery from an injury.

While Wiley – along with goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina – are part of the US team to compete in this summer’s Paris Olympics. 

Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer have been given an extended break due to representing their country in the latter stages of Euro 2024 and Copa America.

The upcoming tour could see debuts for the likes of Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Vega and Marc Guiu who have all made the cut. 

Chelsea fans were unhappy with the exclusion of Chalobah, taking to social media to vent their fury.  

Selling Trevoh Chalobah makes no sense whatsoever,’ one X account posted. ‘He does his talking on the pitch and somehow it’s not enough.’

Another shared footage of Chalobah’s memorable goal against Crystal Palace on his Premier League debut and said: ‘Just look what it means to score for your boyhood club! Trevoh Chalobah deserves so much more respect.

‘Some at the club need reminding of this. No way to treat one of your own.’