Impending Departure

Chelsea is set to depart for their summer tour in the USA under the leadership of new manager Mauricio Pochettino. However, with just four days until their departure, the club has yet to release an official passenger list, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the squad.

Major Squad Changes

The team that will face League Two Wrexham in their first match of the tour will be almost unrecognizable compared to the team that ended their disappointing season against Newcastle. Eight players from the matchday squad have departed, including captain Cesar Azpilicueta, Champions League final goalscorer Kai Havertz, and poster boy Mason Mount.

Notable Departures

Christian Pulisic's £20million move to AC Milan brings the total sales for Chelsea to £210m, resulting in substantial savings on wages and significant departures from the squad. Additionally, N'Golo Kante has joined the Saudi rush by leaving on a free transfer.

Surplus Players

Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Malang Sarr are all deemed surplus stock at Chelsea. Conor Gallagher, wanted by Tottenham, may also stay unless a deal for Moises Caicedo is completed. The squad appears light in central midfield, and if the right offer comes in, a move for defender Trevoh Chalobah could be on the table.

Difficult Choices

Chelsea faces challenges in managing their surplus players, with home-grown players like Lukaku, Loftus-Cheek, and Mount potentially needing to find new clubs. The club and Lukaku are working hard to avoid an awkward situation where he is left out of the squad for the US tour.

The New Wave

Mauricio Pochettino will use the US tour to acquaint himself with the new wave of players replacing those who have left. Young talents like Enzo Fernandez, Noni Madueke, Malo Gusto, and Christopher Nkunku will have the opportunity to showcase their skills and generate publicity for the club.

Pressure on Pochettino

Pochettino faces the challenge of molding these young talents into top-level players in a short period. The Argentine manager is known for his love of risk and will be looking to make an impact when Chelsea faces Liverpool in their first Premier League match of the season.

Old Values Remain

Despite the new manager and significantly changed squad, Chelsea still holds on to its traditional values, putting pressure on Pochettino to quickly settle into the club amidst the whirlwind of transfer activity.