Chelsea are undergoing a major reshuffle of their squad in the ongoing transfer window. They have brought in three new signings in the form of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, and Jamie Gittens. A number of other deals are also expected to be completed in the near future. Meanwhile, the Blues have also focused on clearing out space for the arriving fresh faces by parting with players who are not in Enzo Maresca’s plans moving forward.
A good number of players including Noni Madueke, Djordje Petrovic, and Kepa Arrizabalaga among others have already left Stamford Bridge in the past few weeks. Some other individuals are expected to follow.
There was speculation that Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo might also join the list of departures this summer, having already attracted interest from some clubs. More so, with the Blues looking to bring in a new reliable centre-back and the recent advancement in talks with Jorrel Hato.
However, recent reports suggest otherwise, with the English defender slated to stay. According to The Sun, Crystal Palace and West Ham have shown interest in Adarabioyo in recent weeks but Chelsea consider him not available for transfer.
Chelsea won't consider any offers for Tosin Adarabioyo as the player is not available for transfer
One of the main factors behind this decision is said to be the friendship Adarabioyo shares with Chelsea superstar Cole Palmer. That said, it’s not the only reason, as the English centre-back made a significant contribution to the team last season with 41 outings across all competitions.
In the Club World Cup as well, which the Blues ended up winning, the 27-year-old was handed four appearances by Maresca, three of them being in the starting XI. So it’s safe to say that since joining Chelsea from Fulham on a free transfer last season, the player has quietly become a key part of the squad.
Nevertheless, with the future of Adarabioyo safe, questions will be raised about Trevoh Chalobah, along with others like Axel Disasi and Ben Chilwell. But that’s part of football, and we will have to wait and see how these expected changes shape Chelsea’s defensive line next season.