Another Chelsea star faces axe as ruthless Enzo Maresca decides he’s not in his plans

Axel Disasi could become the latest Chelsea star to be axed with the defender not part of Enzo Maresca’s long-term plans at Stamford Bridge.

Both Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell have been frozen out of the first-team squad by the new Blues boss who has made it clear they will not be part of his team going forward.

Both players were left out of the squad for Sunday’s opening league match against Manchester City, training away from the first-team while their futures are resolved.

Trevoh Chalobah finds himself in a similar position, as did Conor Gallagher, who ended his exile after competing his move to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

The Blues confirmed the signing of Joao Felix the same afternoon with plenty more business expected before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

Another centre-half could be sought should Disasi leave the club, with The Guardian reporting Maresca is not counting on the France international heading into the new season.

Disasi only joined Chelsea last summer, signing a six-year deal after arriving from Monaco in a £38million deal. He instantly became a first-team regular under Mauricio Pochettino, starting 40 games in all competitions, the vast majority of those coming at centre-half.

The 26-year-old missed most of pre-season as he recovered from surgery on a hernia. Newcastle United are interested in signing him, thought to be an alternative option should the Magpies fail to agree a deal with Crystal Palace for Marc Guehi.

With Disasi and Chalobah facing uncertain futures, Chelsea have four other senior centre-halves to call upon.

Maresca views Levi Cowill and Wesley Fofana as his first-choice pairing at the back but the latter is only just returning from a serious knee injury that kept him out for a year.

Tosin Adarabioyo, a free transfer from Fulham this summer, is considered third-choice with Benoit Badiashile also in the group.

With Fofana set to be carefully managed, Chelsea could bring in another option with the Blues named among the clubs interested in signing Joe Gomez from Liverpool.

In addition to Disasi and Chalobah, Carney Chukwuemeka and Djordje Petrovic are also expected to leave with Armando Broja set to seal a move to Ipswich.