Pochettino Omits Nine Players As Chelsea Head to United States for Preseason Tour

• Mauricio Pochettino is set for his first preseason as Chelsea boss in the United States
• Chelsea are set to play Wrexham, a series of Premier League clubs and Borussia Dortmund
• Reece James and Romelu Lukaku are among the players who did not travel with the squad

Mauricio Pochettino has taken a 29-man squad to the United States of America for his inaugural preseason tour as Chelsea boss.

Pochettino, who officially began the task of resuscitating a fallen Blues side on July 1, will use the tour to prepare his charges for the rigours of the upcoming season.

He still has a couple of deficiencies in some key areas, with the club currently interlocked in negotiations with Brighton and Hove Albion over a possible transfer for Moises Caicedo. The mass departure of midfielders this summer means that the club desperately needs to bring in reinforcements.

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Who has Pochettino omitted?

The former Tottenham manager has omitted the players whose future at the club remains uncertain from his travelling party. Romelu Lukaku, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi have all been left at home.

Lukaku has been involved in a transfer saga after Inter Milan pulled out of a deal to sign him permanently after Juventus reportedly entered the race, while Aubameyang is said to have agreed terms with French club Marseille, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.

Reece James is the standout omission from Chelsea's squad, with the website indicating that the right-back pulled out as a precaution. The England international complained of illness on the morning of departure and will link with the rest of the team once he feels better.

Defenders Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile have also been left as they continue to nurse knee injuries. Reserve goalkeeper Marcus Betinelli and striker Armando Broja also did not make the cut as they step up their own individual recovery programs.

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Prospective captain Thiago Silva leads the squad with new signings Cristopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson and Malo Gusto in line for debuts.

Full squad

Goalkeepers: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Gabriel Slonina, Eddie Beach, Jamie Cummming, Lucas Bergstrom,

Defenders: Thiago Silva, Malo Gusto, Alfie Gilchrist, Bashir Humphreys, Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella, Ian Maatsen, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill

Midfielders: Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez, Andrey Santos, Cesare Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lewis Hall

Forwards. Nicolas Jackson, Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku, Mason Burstow, Diego Moreira, Angelo Gabriel, Dujan Richards (training only)

Pochettino to name new Chelsea captain

Sports Brief also reported that with numerous exits already witnessed and more players expected to follow in the summer, Pochettino will be required to come up with a new captaincy pool.

Thiago Silva is the strong favourite to take over captaincy duties on a full-time basis. The veteran Brazilian centre-back is still going strong as he gets into the final year of his Chelsea contract.

Other candidates include academy graduate Reece James, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga - who has worn the armband before - and Raheem Sterling, who was one of the captains at his former club, Manchester City.