- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Chelsea have made it clear to Trevoh Chalobah that they will look to sell him this summer but the versatile defender still feels he could have a future at the Premier League outfit.
HITC Football understands that the Chelsea academy graduate was offered to a number of clubs during the January transfer window. But despite interest from Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich and a Roma side then under the stewardship of ex-Blues boss Jose Mourinho, a deal did not materialise.
Chelsea will look to cash in on Trevoh Chalobah again in the off-season. But it is believed that the 24-year-old is not giving up yet and remains confident he can force his way into the club’s long-term plans, even if his ‘homegrown’ status means his sale would be highly lucrative from a Financial Fair Play perspective.
Chelsea considered flogging captain Conor Gallagher recently for similar reasons.
Trevoh Chalobah is fighting for his Chelsea future
Chalobah, after barely featuring during the start of the Mauricio Pochettino era largely due to a thigh issue, has started to feature more regularly again in recent weeks.
He played the full 90 minutes during last week’s 2-2 draw at Brentford. Chalobah also came off the bench against Liverpool in the EFL Cup final – Virgil van Dijk scoring a dramatic extra-time winner – and started versus Leeds United in the FA Cup.
“We are so happy (to have Chalobah back), because he was suffering,” Pochettino told the Chelsea website after Gallagher struck a last-gasp decider to knock out Leeds at Stamford Bridge.
“He was really fit in pre-season and he was playing the most until in Washington, against Fulham, he felt something in his quad. Then started the torture, because it was one thing after another.
“After eight months, he had the possibility to play, to help the team. I am so happy for him because he was sad during a long period when he was injured. It is the same now with Romeo Lavia or Wesley Fofana, you feel pain for these guys.
‘Now with Trevoh having the possibility to play – and play in the way that he played because he was really good against Leeds – I am so happy for him.
“We are happy that he can help the team again.”
Academy graduate hopes to stay at Stamford Bridge
With a contract until 2028, Chelsea can still demand a considerable sum for the reportedly £50 million-rated Chalobah if they do decide to cash in this summer. The club’s hierarchy, however, insist that they are not concerned about breaching those Profit and Sustainability Rules.
HITC Football also understands that, with Chelsea making a habit of squandering chances in the final third, attacking reinforcements are a priority this summer. The London giants made an approach for Mathys Tel before the £17 million teenager signed a new deal with Bayern Munich this week. There is also interest in another right-footed, left-winger, AC Milan talisman Rafael Leao.
PSG are, however, expected to be in the race for Leao, especially with Kylian Mbappe on his way.
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