The absences of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and N'Golo Kante were no doubt the standout takeaways from Chelsea's confirmed pre-season tour squad list. The duo have been unable to make the trip due to their vaccination status, in a blow to the squad ahead of the start of the Premier League season in four weeks time.
Ian Maatsen and Dujon Sterling were also missing from the 29-man squad in the USA, while Armando Broja is set to join up with his teammates next week. However, it is perhaps the names that did make the list that should prompt conversation.
Michy Batshuayi was signed for £33 million and has undergone five loan spells while with the Blues. Kenedy has taken part in loans at Watford, Newcastle, Getafe, Granada and Flamengo, and could rarely break into Chelsea's XI upon his return in January, even with the Blues being short at left back. It was a similar story for Ross Barkley last term, with the former Everton star only making one Premier League appearance in 2022.
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It is difficult to see any of that trio having a significant future at Chelsea moving forwards but it appears they will garner some pre-season minutes for the Blues. They are not the only players who Thomas Tuchel may start his preparations with, and may not be present at the club for the start of 2022/23, with Hakim Ziyech, Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso all linked with moves away.
Across London, the story has been somewhat different. Antonio Conte's Tottenham side also headed on their pre-season tour this weekend but left Sergio Reguilon, Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele and Joe Rodon at home. The latter decision appears to have been make due to illness but the former trio's futures have been made pretty clear.
Lo Celso and Ndombele spent last term out on loan and are among the Lilywhites' most expensive signings ever. The latter may even struggle for a move given his salary and struggles during his time in north London in addition to those while on loan at Lyon. Reguilon was signed for a fee that could rise as high as £32 million and played 31 times last term. To not take that group, makes Spurs' position clear now. Chelsea's position on certain players may have been made over a number of years, but their presence perhaps leads to some confusion.
Conte also facilitated some space in his group for some youngsters with Josh Keeley, Charlie Sayers and Malachi Fagan-Walcott all named, while Tuchel named Harvey Vale and Teddy Sharman-Lowe in his, it perhaps begs the question whether the likes of Lewis Hall and Charlie Webster, who were involved in first team training ahead of the trip, could have benefitted from the experience, at the expense of more familiar names. Though, admittedly, in Ethan Ampadu, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Billy Gilmour and Levi Colwill there is still a youthful contingent present.
It is understandable the likes of Barkley, Kenedy and Batshuayi may be difficult to move on from the club, high salaries and the lack of standout season will mean suitors are not compelled to stump up the cash years of investment the Blues have made. But with those players who have little opportunity of troubling the first XI now or in the future, should they take up coveted spots on tour.
Perhaps there's an argument they help maintain the standard of the group and assist in maintaining a squad size that is needed in the early weeks of preparation, while a development team can still form their own bonds. Indeed, the Blues still made the decision to leave Matt Miazga at home following his season on loan.
Nevertheless, over the next weeks questions will arise when players take to the field in friendlies, and discussions will emerge whether the right ones are having time invested in them. The likes of Danny Drinkwater, Davide Zappacosta, Baba Rahaman, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Lewis Baker and Jake Clarke-Salter all saw pre-season minutes last term and never had a meaningful role for the Blues.
Of course, it means they were able to be loaned as match-fit players, but with such a short pre-season will utilising players with little no chance of making Chelsea's squad be the most productive thing to do?
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