Trevoh Chalobah wants to fight for his place at Chelsea despite being omitted from the Blues’ pre-season tour of the United States.
Chelsea have taken 28 players on their five-match USA trip, but opted to leave academy graduate centre-back Chalobah at home.
Chelsea have been open to selling Chalobah all summer, with the Blues looking for upwards of £25million for the talented 25-year-old.
Chalobah is understood to prefer to stay at Chelsea and force his way back into the selection reckoning, but would seek European football in any eventual transfer.
Fulham and Crystal Palace both hold a long-term interest in Chalobah, whose Chelsea contract runs until 2028.
Tosin Adarabioyo’s free-transfer arrival from Fulham has bolstered the Blues competition in central defence. And Chelsea chiefs have shown their faith and confident in Levi Colwill by handing the 21-year-old England defender Thiago Silva’s No6 shirt.
Homegrown defensive talent Alfie Gilchrist has also not headed out on tour, with a loan move beckoning. Preston and Sheffield United have both retained strong interest in taking the 20-year-old this term.
Teenage Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong has been taken on tour, with new head coach Enzo Maresca keen to have a close look at the 18-year-old.
