From Chelsea to California! Enzo Maresca's Blues head to the US for pre-season tour as Trevor Chalobah is left out of squad amid exit rumours

Chalobah wasn't among the group picked to fly to California, where Chelsea will kick off the summer with a friendly against Wrexham at the home of the San Francisco 49ers. Fabrizio Romano explained that the versatile home-grown defender was "told to stay home". The apparent justification is a well-stocked group of right-sided centre-backs ahead of him in the pecking order: Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi and new signing Tosin Adarabioyo. Teenager Josh Acheampong will also get a chance to impress Maresca as additional right-back cover, which is Chalobah's other main position.

The Athletic considers it a clear signal that Chalobah is deemed "surplus to requirements" at Chelsea, despite playing a full part in pre-season training at Cobham so far this summer. He is tipped to use the time to seek a permanent transfer away.

Chelsea named the following 28-player tour squad:

Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez, Marcus Bettinelli, Eddie Beach, Lucas Bergstrom.

Defenders: Reece James, Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga.

Midfielders: Carney Chukwuemeka, Romeo Lavia, Lesley Ugochukwu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Andrey Santos.

Forwards: Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Armando Broja, Tyrique George, Marc Guiu, Angelo.

The likes of Cole Palmer, Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez and others who have been involved in international tournaments this summer are also not part of the tour group for now. But those individuals will link up with the Blues as and when they are ready.

While Chalobah may well have played his last Chelsea game (May 19 against Bournemouth in the Premier League), the rest of the squad can look forward to tour matches against Wrexham, as mentioned, and Celtic, Club America, Manchester City and Real Madrid before returning home in early August. A final warm-up against Inter at Stamford Bridge is scheduled for August 11.