Chelsea star recently pondered leaving as Palmer omission truth revealed

One Chelsea star surprisingly thought about leaving during the recent summer transfer window. Why did the defender ponder exiting Stamford Bridge, and what was his preferred destination? That's right, the often candid centre back actually disclosed the club he considered moving to and why.

There is another piece of news for the Blues fan base to get their heads around on Thursday, as well. That's because the true reason for a trio of respective shock UEFA Europa Conference League omissions has been revealed. So why were Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana left out of the initial league phase after qualifying for the UECL?

Reason for disregarded Conference League stars at Chelsea

A few eyebrows were raised a week or so ago as Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana, along with Chels' supporters, learned that they won't be involved in the infancy stage European competition. Let me tell you, if Blues boss Enzo Maresca failed to sit each individual down and explain exactly why they were not playing early on, there will have been feelings of confusion, distrust and resentment amongst them.

However, Maresca is likely to have taken the time to undertake that delicate task. So there should be no worries with respect to man-management. But, I hear you ask, why were commanding and classy Fofana, midfield dynamo Lavia and playmaker extraordinaire Palmer omitted? Essential the young but impressive group are regarded as too crucial to Chelsea's overall season to be risked against lesser opponents.

As Express Sport suggests, the official 'line' is that the trio's separate work load can be efficiently managed here. The possibility of featuring in as many as five competitions exists this campaign. Therefore it is arguably best to engineer fewer appearances in some areas.

Saving superior stars for the most testing and rewarding matches seems quite prudential from CFC's notably wild and inexperienced ownership and board. Unless the warring factions have actually stepped back and allowed a manager to make vital decisions himself.

Not to mention injuries and fitness questions swirling around at least two of these emerging world-class footballers. Clearly the west London outfit intend to take precautions with their coveted assets.

Why Wesley Fofana contemplated departing Fulham Road over the course of the summer

Fofana is definitely in Maresca's Chelsea plans. Yet the Ex-Leicester City defender would have naturally been unsure of his role as 2024/25 preparations began:

"I had a conversation that really touched me. I would be lying if I said I didn’t weigh it up. It was from [Medhi] Benatia, Marseille’s sporting director. It touched me and I think everyone knows why. I thought about it but there you go, the current objective is to succeed at Chelsea, to try and play regularly, and to establish myself at my club.

But OM, we’ll see one day. I still have a contract until 2029 and we’ll see after that. I have never hidden it, [Marseille] is my city, my club, I am an OM supporter. We’ll see if I end up being at Marseille in a few years, or if I stay at Chelsea for the rest of my career."

- Wesley Fofana