Chelsea leave SIX first-team players out of their pre-season tour of USA amid the club’s…

Chelsea have left six of their first-team stars at home for their pre-season tour of the USA as the club continue their summer exodus. 

The Blues have already seen a number of players leave the club this summer as Mauricio Pochettino gets to grips with his bloated first-team squad.

The likes of Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic have all departed the west London giants during the summer. 

And it looks like there could be a host of familiar faces following them out the exit door after they were omitted from Chelsea’s pre-season tour side.

It was confirmed, on Monday, that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech, Harvey Vale and Omari Hutchinson were all left out from their pre-season squad.

Mauricio Pochettino (pictured) has been tasked with leading Chelsea’s summer exodus

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (left) and Romelu Lukaku (right) were both left out the squad

All of the aforementioned players have now returned to first-team training but will remain in west London for their pre-season preparations. 

Belgian striker Lukaku has been closely linked with Italian giants Juventus and a number of Saudi Pro League sides this summer. 

Fellow striker Aubameyang, meanwhile, could be sold to French side Marseille for just £5million this summer.

London rivals Fulham have reportedly been in talks with Chelsea star Hudon-Odoi ahead of his prospective exit this summer. 

Youngsters Vale and Hutchinson likely won’t exit the club this summer and are both viewed as prospects for the future. 

The Blues confirmed their 29-man squad for their tour of America and none of the aforementioned players made the cut, ahead of prospective moves away.

The likes of Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Marcus Bettinelli and Armando Broja were also left behind but they are all suffering injury problems.

Chelsea’s new signings – such as Christopher Nkunku, Andrey Santos, Nicolas Jackson and Malo Gusto – have all been included in the pre-season side.

Returning loanees Bashir Humphreys, Ian Maatsen and Cesare Casadei have also travelled with the squad.

The Blues will play four matches in the States as they look to bounce back from a disappointing Premier League campaign in 2022-23. 

Pochettino’s side will kick-start their tour of America against League Two side Wrexham on Wednesday afternoon in North Carolina.

They will then travel to Philadelphia, Atlanta and Landover to play against Premier League rivals Brighton, Newcastle and Fulham.

Hakim Ziyech (left) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (right) will likely leave the Blues this summer

Mason Mount, who signed for Man United, was one of the Chelsea’s stars pushed out the exit doors in west London 

Meanwhile, Pochettino reportedly held face-to-face talks with Levi Colwill last week to outline his plans for the highly-rated defender.

A number of clubs are monitoring developments with Colwill including Brighton, where he spent last season on loan and who have already seen a £30m summer offer to sign the 20 year-old permanently rejected.

Colwill and fellow Chelsea teammate and Noni Madueke have joined up with the squad after helping England win the Under-21 Euros earlier this month.

Madueke is among Pochettino’s attacking options on the tour, which also include Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling, Angelo Gabriel, Diego Moreira, Jackson, Nkunku, Mason Burstow and Dujuan Richards.