Eyebrows were raised when Chelsea revealed that Trevoh Chalobah was not part of their pre-season squad.
The Blues announced their 28-man squad for their pre-season tour of the United States on Monday evening.
There was one major omission from Enzo Maresca’s squad that was picked up on immediately – Trevoh Chalobah had been left out.
HITC understands that Chelsea have informed Chalobah he has no future at the club after leaving him out of the pre-season squad.
Sources close to the player have confirmed to HITC that he was expecting the news, but is still ‘hugely disappointed’.
Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for the 25-year-old defender, but Chalobah was not initially keen on leaving the Blues.
Darragh MacAnthony reacts to Trevoh Chalobah news
Chalobah appears to be the next academy graduate from Cobham set to be cashed in for a profit.
Chelsea have splashed the cash under their American owners and much of their transfer business has been fuelled by the sale of homegrown players such as Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Marc Guehi.
Speaking on talkSPORT, MacAnthony, who is the chairman of Peterborough United, defended the Chelsea owners.
“The rules are twisted. Too much young English talent is being moved on or used in a card game to funnel numbers,” he said.
“I don’t like any rules which encourage clubs to move on their homegrown talent. There is nothing worse than losing someone who has come through your academy.
“Saying that, they are going by the rules and are trying to build a squad that can compete. I have defended the Chelsea owners before – I didn’t love the Pochettino decision but I will defend them in that they want what is best for the club.
“If they need to make ‘x’ amount this summer then the best way of doing it is selling one of those academy graduates, whether it’s Gallagher or Chalobah – it’s going to happen and you have to live with it.”
Chelsea’s academy strategy
The current Profit and Sustainability Rules reward clubs for cashing in on youngsters as their sales provide pure profit on the club’s accounts.
READ MORE: Chelsea announce signing of Caleb Wiley, 19-year-old is now set for loan move this summer
It is a strategy that Chelsea have used to bankroll their huge transfer spending in recent windows and it could continue with Conor Gallagher.
The Chelsea midfielder has been linked with a move to Tottenham, but HITC revealed in June that Gallagher made it clear to Chelsea that he won’t be forced out of the club
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