Striker Diego Costa is another missing from the squad as the Blues head to China to face Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal in a pre-season friendly
Antonio Conte’s fresh revolution at Chelsea appears to have no room for Nemanja Matic, who moved closer to a move away from the club after being left off the Blues’ pre-season tour squad.
Goal revealed that Matic, along with new signings Tiemoue Bakayoko and Antonio Rudiger, would not be part of the travelling party to Beijing for the friendly meeting with Arsenal, which Chelsea have now officially confirmed.
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Serbia international Matic has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United, although Goal understands the Blues are reluctant to sell to their rivals after the Romelu Lukaku transfer saga.
Inter, who have also been mooted as a potential destination, appears a more favourable option for selling club Chelsea, with the midfielder’s days at Stamford Bridge seemingly numbered.
Bakayoko has been drafted in from Monaco to add competition in midfield, although the Frenchman is also absent from the selection to travel to China and Singapore.
All aboard! #CFCTour pic.twitter.com/oBDiTZ0LOK
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 18, 2017
Rudiger will, however, return for the matches against Bayern and Inter, although Eden Hazard misses the tour as he recovers from a broken ankle.
French defender Kurt Zouma, meanwhile, also stays at home, with the Frenchman expected to secure a loan departure from the champions.
Diego Costa is, less surprisingly, not involved. The Spain international has not reported back to pre-season training after being told he was surplus to requirements by Conte.
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His former employers Atletico Madrid are reportedly keen on an estimated £40 million deal, but their FIFA-imposed transfer ban means Costa would be unable to play for Diego Simeone until January.
After missing out on Romelu Lukaku to United, Chelsea have been linked with the likes of Alvaro Morata, Andrea Belotti and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Chelsea tour squad in full: Thibaut Courtois, Willy Caballero, Eduardo, Marcin Bulka, Cesar Azpilicueta, Gary Cahill, David Luiz, Andreas Christensen, Tomas Kalas, Jake Clarke-Salter, Fikayo Tomori, Marcos Alonso, Victor Moses, Cesc Fabregas, N’Golo Kante, Mario Pasalic, Lewis Baker, Kyle Scott, Pedro, Willian, Kenedy, Charly Musonda Jr, Jeremie Boga, Michy Batshuayi, Loic Remy.
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