CHELSEA fans have slammed the quality of their team as the squad jetted off on their pre-season tour of the US.
Several big names have been left behind with some missing out due to injury.
While others are on the transfer list and expected to leave this summer, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang being lined up with a switch to Marseille.
That means the squad travelling to America is a little thread-bare with just six midfielders making the trip.
That group average just 7.6 starts in the Premier League each with Conor Gallagher and Enzo Fernandez the most senior amongst them.
Key midfielders such as Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Kai Havertz and Mason Mount have all left the club this summer.
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In total 13 first-team players have departed on permanent or loan transfers – leading some fans to fear there is a lack of quality in the squad.
Mauricio Pochettino has included several young players to make up the numbers on the pre-season trip, though there were some familiar faces on the plane like Raheem Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk.
Chelsea shared a photo of the squad on the flight, sparking concern amongst fans that there is not enough strength in depth.
One wrote: “I don’t even recognise half this squad anymore 😭”
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Another added: “This club is finished 😭”
A third said: “Who are all these people? I swear I don’t know half of these faces. “
And another commented: “Worst squad I’ve seen in two decades.”
Chelsea are planning to improve the squad and have made Brighton’s Moises Caicedo one of their main transfer targets.
Caicedo, 21, has agreed personal terms with the Blues but signing the Ecuadorian could still prove tricky with Brighton demanding £100million to let him leave.
However Chelsea do have several key players who are set to return from injury over the coming weeks, including Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Benoit Badiashile, Armando Broja and Marcus Bettinelli.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
