The Chelsea squad heading to China and Singapore next week will travel with two notable exceptions.
The Sun report both Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic are to be left behind as the Blues get their pre-season underway in the Far East.
Costa’s absence comes as no surprise whatsoever, with Antonio Conte having texted him at the start of the summer to inform him he wasn’t part of his plans.
As for Matic, this could all but confirm his departure. Tiemoue Bakayoko has arrived from Monaco and is expected to partner N’Golo Kante in central midfield next season, which leaves little room for the Serbia international.
The 28-year-old has been back in training but he has spent some of that time alone. Per the same source, Jose Mourinho is interested in taking him to Manchester United as he continues to search for a holding midfielder, though Chelsea aren’t keen to help their former boss out.
Conte has already allowed Nathaniel Chalobah to leave for Watford, leaving Chelsea with a potential gap in that position.
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