Chelsea must NOT repeat Tomori mistake with Chalobah

James Shearman

Updated: 6 Oct 2022 17:54 BST
3 min read

Trevoh Chalobah for Chelsea, 2021/22 — © ProShots

Having allowed Fikayo Tomori to leave for AC Milan in 2021, Chelsea should avoid repeating the same mistake with Trevoh Chalobah.

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According to Calciomercato, Chalobah is being tracked by Milan, who are also looking at forward Christian Pulisic.

The pair are of particular interest to the Rossoneri as part of a swap deal should key player Rafael Leao move to Stamford Bridge next summer.

And both could be interested in a move to San Siro given the lack of playing time they have enjoyed under Thomas Tuchel and now Graham Potter in the 2022-23 season.

Former Chelsea defender Tomori made the same switch last summer, and has impressed greatly in his time in Serie A.

Albeit the logic behind the England international's departure was solid, he was already 23 years old and had played only 17 times, the Blues have since been made to regret the decision.

And the west London club will suffer the same fate if Chalobah is sold to their Champions League Group E opponents.

Why Chelsea must keep Chalobah

Trevoh Chalobah entered the fray last season under Thomas Tuchel as the fifth-choice central defender, behind Antonio Rudiger, Thiago Silva, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta.

But with the Blues employing a five defender formation, that meant Chalobah still managed 17 Premier League starts.

Good to be back. @ChampionsLeague nights are always special 💙 pic.twitter.com/Zmwyl6bMk6
— Trevoh Chalobah (@TrevohChalobah) October 6, 2022

He has only made one league start in the 2022-23 season, but the recent injury to new signing Wesley Fofana could give him the playing time he desires.

Chalobah replaced Fofana in the first half of the Blues' 3-0 victory over Milan in the Champions League and performed well for the remainder of the game.

“Yes for me I am at Chelsea, this is my club,'' he told reporters after the match. ''Any chance I get I need to do my best and let the manager decide.

''I felt good stepping on the pitch today. It has been a long time but it felt good and I can’t wait for the next game.''

Chelsea may have a number of quality centre-backs, but squad depth is vitally important at the highest level.

So the west London club would be making another huge mistake if there were to let Chalobah join Tomori in Milan.