MAURICIO POCHETTINO has named his 25-man Chelsea Premier League squad – and axed the £100,000-a-week star.
However, the player who was relegated from League One last season made the cut.
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Chelsea’s Malang Sarr has been dropped from the Premier League squadCredit: PA
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Goalkeeper Jamie Cumming made the cut Credit: Getty
The Blues and other Premier League clubs had to send their 25 players eligible to play in the first half of the campaign, as well as a list of U21 aces.
Teams may not include more than 17 foreign players, and the remaining eight spots must go to those who qualify as domestic.
New summer signings Moises Caicedo, Robert Sanchez, Đorđe Petrović, Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson are included.
Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, Levi Colwill, Ian Maatsen, Malo Gusto, Noni Madueke, Lesley Ugochukwu and Carney Chukwuemeka were all left out because they were 21 or under.
The Premier League rules read: “Players under the age of 21 are eligible over the limit of 25 players per team. Each player is allocated the team number they wear during Premier League matches.
“For the 2023/24 campaign, under-21 players will be born on or after 1 January 2002.”
However, one player Pochettino clumsily forgot was even at the club last month failed to make the cut.
During the post-match press conference following the win over Luton Town, a reporter questioned the Chelsea boss: “I just wanted to ask about the two players who have gone missing. Malang Sarr, who was on loan last season.”
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To which Pochettino asked: “Who?”
The reporter continued: “Malang Sarr, and what happened to Jamie Cummings playing the game against Wrexham [in the preseason]?”
Pochettino appeared to be confused when he said: “Oh my God.”
“Malana Sarr and Jamie? I don’t know what to tell you.”
Sarr (24) is a former French U21 national team player who arrived at Chelsea from Nice in 2020.
He spent last term on loan at Monaco and started just six Premier League games in his first season with the Blues.
He is now lower down the pecking order when it comes to Chelsea’s options at centre-back – although it is understood he has also struggled to attract interest from other clubs.
Despite pocketing £100,000-a-week and under contract until 2025, he now faces the prospect of not playing Premier League football until at least January after being snubbed by Poch.
However, there was better news for 24-year-old Cummings who made the team.
The goalkeeper came through the Blues’ academy and had spells at Stevenage and Gillingham before being relegated from MK Dons to League One last season.
Chelsea’s Premier League squad
A list of 25 members – * represents domestic
THE DOCTOR
Robert Sanchez*, Marcus Bettinelli*, James Cumming*, Đorđe Petrović
DEFENDERS
Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah*, Ben Chilwell*, Marc Cucurella, Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva, Wesley Fofana, Reece James*
MIDFIELDER
Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, Mykhailo Mudryk
FORWARD
Armando Broja*, Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling*
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Source: HIS Education