Petrovic, Nkunku and 17 other players who could leave Chelsea as Club World Cup squad announced

Chelsea confirmed their 28-man squad for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup on Wednesday. A few slight surprises, but all in all, it was nothing out of the ordinary and not a lot supporters did not expect.

On the list were four new signings, not including Andrey Santos who will feel like one in the United States, such as Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr and Mike Penders. Elsewhere, there was no place for Wesley Fofana, who has not recovered from his hamstring surgery just yet.

However, it was quite telling regarding the players who were not included in the travelling squad. Enzo Maresca left out Joao Felix, Djordje Petrovic, Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi, Ben Chilwell, Kendry Paez, Renato Veiga, Mathis Amougou, Lesley Ugochukwu, Armando Broja and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Of those 11 players, nine of them could well leave permanently this summer. Paez and Amougou are the only ones you can say with any certainty will be on Chelsea’s books next summer. Both are expected to move to Strasbourg on a season-long loan deal, football.london understands.

Meanwhile, there are a few players that have been included in the squad that could still leave this summer. Depending on what happens with Mike Maignan and whether or not Chelsea decide to revisit their pursuit once the transfer window reopens, Robert Sanchez could be allowed to leave.

West Ham United have shown an interest in the Spanish goalkeeper, football.london understands, with Graham Potter said to be keen on reuniting with Sanchez. Chelsea are expected to send Penders out on loan regardless as they look to get the 19-year-old shot-stopper more first team experience.

Benoit Badiashile’s future at Stamford Bridge remains uncertain. The Frenchman featured just five times in the Premier League over the course of the 2024/25 campaign and sources close to the player have not ruled out a departure this summer.

Chelsea will allow Trevoh Chalobah to leave the club should they receive the right offer for the England international. Chalobah will not be short of admirers after impressing for the Blues once recalled from his loan at Crystal Palace back in January.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could leave the club this summer if he wants to get more first team football. The 26-year-old played a significant part in Chelsea’s Conference League triumph but with just 13 appearances to his name in the Premier League, it is clear the former Leicester City man sits below others in the pecking order.

It is unclear at this stage whether Santos will be at Chelsea next season or not. The Brazilian midfielder will get the Club World Cup as an opportunity to impress Maresca before the club decide whether to loan him out for a third successive campaign.

Marc Guiu is allowed to leave on loan this summer, with Ipswich Town talking with Chelsea recently regarding the Spaniard. After the Blues bought Delap from the Tractor Boys, conversations were then held about Guiu spending the 25/26 season at Portman Road.

Christopher Nkunku, despite being named in the Club World Cup squad, is set to leave Chelsea this summer. The 27-year-old is looking for a new club, football.london understands, after another frustrating season in west London. Chelsea are willing to sell Nkunku, but only for the right price.

It is clear Maresca wanted some continuity in his squad and that is why he has selected the players he has for the United States. The squad does not tell us much about the head coach’s future plans because you could make a case for almost half of that squad not being at Chelsea next season – whether that be on loan or leaving on a permanent basis.