Chelsea announce 25-man Premier League squad, £100,000-a-week flop axed… but player relegated from League One gets in
MAURICIO POCHETTINO has named his 25-man Chelsea Premier League squad – and he has left out a £100,000-a-week star.
However, a player who was relegated from League One last season did it.
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The Blues and the other top clubs had to submit their 25 men eligible to play for the first half of the season as well as a list of U21 stars.
Teams cannot have more than 17 foreign players, with the remaining eight spots having to go to those who qualify as local players.
Summer signings include Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Robert Sanchez, Djordje Petrovic, Axel Disasi, Lesley Ugochukwu, Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson.
However, a player who Pochettino clumsily forgot about last month, even at the club, failed to make the squad.
During the post-match press conference after the win over Luton Town, the Chelsea manager was questioned by a reporter: “I just wanted to ask about two players who went missing. Malang Sarr, who was on loan last season.”
To which Pochettino asked: “Who?”
The reporter continued: “Malang Sarr and what happened to Jamie Cummings who played the game against Wrexham.” [in the preseason]?”
Pochettino appeared confused as he said: “Oh my God.”
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“Malana Sarr and then Jamie? I don’t know what I can tell you.”
Sarr, 24, is a former France U21 international who joined Chelsea from Nice in 2020.
He spent last season on loan at Monaco and started just six Premier League games in his first season for the Blues.
He has now fallen down the rankings when it comes to Chelsea’s options at centre-back – although he also appears to be struggling to attract interest from other clubs.
Despite earning £100,000 a week and being contracted until 2025, he now expects not to play top-flight football until at least January after being turned down by Poch.
However, there was better news for 24-year-old Cummings when he was included in the squad.
The goalkeeper came through the Blues academy and played at Stevenage and Gillingham before being relegated to League One with MK Dons last season.