Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has criticized the club’s owners for their decision to list Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah for sale this summer.
The former Super Eagles captain described the move as “bad business” and emphasized that both Gallagher and Chalobah should stay at Chelsea.
According to talkSPORT, Gallagher and Chalobah have been excluded from first-team training under Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca after being put up for sale.
The Premier League West London club are keen to offload Chalobah, while Gallagher was set to move to Atletico Madrid, with the midfielder even flying over to Spain to complete the transfer.
“Of course, two young boys that bleed blue, exactly,” Obi Mikel said on his podcast, The Obi One podcast.
“Through and through. At the club when they were little boys and now we have to sell them to make sure it balances the books.
“Then it comes down to the owners just spending way too much money and buying everybody that’s got a price tag on [them].
“Now, you have to sell, for me the best player last season apart from Cole Palmer, was Conor Gallagher.
“For me, I think he should still be at the club. Also Chalobah as well for me when he came back from his injury.
“Two young players who bleed Chelsea, and now you have to sell them to balance the books.”
He added, “I just think it’s bad business from the owners. Absolutely bad business from the owners. Now, we’ve lost two fantastic players .