Chelsea defender, Trevoh Chalobah, finds himself in a precarious position as he has been barred from using the club’s first-team facilities amidst ongoing negotiations for his exit.
Chalobah, who joined Chelsea at the tender age of eight, is currently training with Chelsea’s development squad and has been kept away from the first-team building at Cobham training base. This means that until he agrees to a move away from Stamford Bridge, he must spend his time in the academy building.
The defender hasn't been seen in the first-team dressing room or at lunch since Chelsea returned from their pre-season tour of America - a tour which Chalobah was not part of.
Other players facing similar Fate
Interestingly, Chalobah isn't alone in this predicament. Another academy graduate Armando Broja and Romelu Lukaku are also among those training with Chelsea’s youngsters. Midfielder Conor Gallagher faced a similar fate before agreeing to a move to La Liga club Atlético Madrid.
Chelsea's stance is clear: players who will not be considered for a first-team place under new head coach Enzo Maresca should focus on their futures rather than being given false hopes about their prospects within the club.
Potential suitors
Aston Villa and Crystal Palace have shown interest in acquiring services of Chalobah who made 17 appearances last season under former head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Despite turning down an offer from Nottingham Forest last summer and battling injuries to reclaim his spot on several occasions, it seems that his time at Stamford Bridge is nearing its end.
However, despite these developments causing surprise among some teammates, it's understood that Chalobah has acted professionally throughout this process. With four years still left on his contract signed back in November 2022, Chelsea reportedly values Chalobah at around £25 million.
Broja, unlike Chalobah, was part of the US tour but is now training with the development squad as he seeks a move away. Despite a disappointing loan spell at Fulham last season, there is interest from Premier League clubs and overseas for him. Lukaku has also attracted attention from Napoli where former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is now head coach. However, Napoli are yet to make an offer after being informed that Chelsea wants his £37.8 million buy-out clause met.
New signings on horizon
In other news, Chelsea have completed the signing of winger Pedro Neto who has signed a six-year contract with an option for another year. The club is also finalizing the arrival of striker Samu Omorodion from Atletico Madrid.
This period marks a significant transition phase for Chelsea as they look to reshape their squad under new management while ensuring promising futures for their players.
