Senegal defender Mamadou Sarr included in Chelsea Asia tour squad as Nicolas Jackson misses out

Chelsea have included Senegal defender Mamadou Sarr in their 28-man squad for the club’s pre-season tour of Asia, while Nicolas Jackson has been left out of Xabi Alonso’s travelling group.

The Blues have begun preparations for a new campaign under Alonso, who has taken charge after Enzo Maresca departed to become Manchester City manager.

The former Real Madrid coach is now tasked with building consistency at Stamford Bridge and shaping the squad ahead of the new season.

Chelsea’s pre-season plans will see the team travel to Asia, including a stay in Australia where they are scheduled to face Western Sydney and Tottenham in friendly matches before concluding the tour in Hong Kong.

Among the players selected for the trip is Mamadou Sarr, the Senegalese centre-back who joined Chelsea from Strasbourg.

The defender, who is expected to leave the club on loan, has been handed the number 19 shirt for the tour and will have the opportunity to impress Alonso’s coaching staff during preparations.

However, Nicolas Jackson was not included in the squad. The striker, who recently returned from a loan spell at Bayern Munich, will not be part of Chelsea’s pre-season group as Alonso looks at other attacking options.

The Spanish coach has chosen to include João Pedro, Liam Delap and young forward Ryan Kavuma-McQueen among the players available to lead the attack during the tour.

Jackson’s absence comes amid uncertainty over his future at Stamford Bridge, with Aston Villa reportedly interested in signing the Senegal international and making him one of their priorities during the summer transfer window.

Chelsea are now focused on evaluating their squad under Alonso, with the Asian tour providing an early opportunity for several players to compete for places ahead of the new season.

For Sarr, the trip represents a chance to gain valuable experience with the first team and show his qualities, despite expectations that he could spend the upcoming campaign away from the club on loan.

Meanwhile, Jackson’s omission adds further attention to his situation as Chelsea continue preparations for Alonso’s first season in charge.