Chelsea reveal USA tour squad with Fofana, James and Lukaku all absent
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helsea have revealed a 29-man travelling squad for his or her pre-season tour of the United States.
The Blues are heading throughout the Atlantic for a busy summer time journey that features 5 matches in as many alternative cities, with new boss Mauricio Pochettino taking cost of the workforce for the primary time towards Wrexham in an FC Series conflict in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on Wednesday evening.
That is adopted by the inaugural Premier League Summer Series, by which Chelsea will face a trio of acquainted opponents in Brighton (July 22), Newcastle (July 26) and Fulham (July 30) in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Landover respectively. The tour culminates in a gathering with Borussia Dortmund in Chicago on August 2.
Chelsea have now confirmed their travelling occasion led by Pochettino, which incorporates new signings Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Angelo Gabriel, Diego Moreira and Dujuan Richards, plus Malo Gusto and Andrey Santos, who each joined in January earlier than being despatched straight again out on mortgage. Young Jamaica striker Richards is not going to play in any of the matches although, having been designated in a “training only” function.
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However, Wesley Fofana has been left behind completely as a result of a knee damage, which the membership say is presently being assessed.
Also staying again at Cobham as a result of damage are Fofana’s fellow French centre-back Benoit Badiashile and goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, with striker Armando Broja equally not travelling as he continues his comeback from ACL surgical procedure. The absence of each Fofana and Badiashile ought to result in a beginning function for Levi Colwill.
There can also be no Reece James in Chelsea’s preliminary squad, however his absence has been confirmed as merely precautionary as a result of sickness, with the England right-back anticipated to fly out to affix his team-mates as quickly as he has recovered.
As anticipated, there isn’t a Romelu Lukaku within the group as Chelsea proceed to work to safe his exit with Juventus now main the race for his signature after Inter Milan withdrew their £34million bid and walked away from talks over a everlasting deal.
Juventus have additionally made a £32m provide for Lukaku that features a additional £2m in add-ons, however any deal is conditional on the Serie A giants promoting Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic first.
Al-Hilal additionally need Lukaku, however the Belgian worldwide would like a return to Italy over a transfer to Saudi Arabia, regardless of the provide of an enormous pay rise.
There is equally no Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in Chelsea’s US squad, with the previous Arsenal captain additionally surplus to necessities at Stamford Bridge amid curiosity from French membership Marseille.
Work continues: Mauricio Pochettino has named a 29-player squad to tour the United States
/ Chelsea FC by way of Getty ImagesOther notable absentees embody Callum Hudson-Odoi, who’s in talks with Fulham after getting back from a mortgage spell at Bayer Leverkusen, and Hakim Ziyech, who’s being linked with Napoli after the collapse of a proposed £8m swap to Saudi Arabian facet Al-Nassr.
Pochettino has taken loads of youthful gamers to the US, together with Lucas Bergstrom, Eddie Beach, Jamie Cumming, Bashir Humphreys, Ian Maatsen, Alfie Gilchrist, Cesare Casadei and Mason Burstow.
Chelsea’s 29-man squad for USA pre-season tour
Goalkeepers
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Gabriel Slonina
Lucas Bergstrom
Eddie Beach
Jamie Cumming
Defenders
Thiago Silva
Trevoh Chalobah
Ben Chilwell
Marc Cucurella
Malo Gusto
Bashir Humphreys
Levi Colwill
Ian Maatsen
Alfie Gilchrist
Midfielders
Enzo Fernandez
Conor Gallagher
Carney Chukwuemeka
Andrey Santos
Cesare Casadei
Lewis Hall
Forwards
Mykhailo Mudryk
Raheem Sterling
Noni Madueke
Angelo Gabriel
Diego Moreira
Nicolas Jackson
Christopher Nkunku
Mason Burstow
Dujuan Richards (coaching solely)