Trevoh Chalobah: From Chelsea’s ‘bomb squad’ to emergency recall

Photographs from Chelsea’s Cobham training ground on Friday appeared to support Maresca’s description of Chalobah’s “happy” demeanour.

But each transfer window must bring a sense of de ja vu for Chalobah, having been made available for sale in the past three.

Nottingham Forest had a bid accepted at £25m on deadline day in September 2023, when Chalobah was first put on the market, but the player ultimately rejected the move.

Chalobah was up for sale again in the January 2024 window, but no-one met the £25m asking price, despite reported interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

The England Under-21 international then battled his way into Mauricio Pochettino’s first team and was the starting centre-back at the end of the 2023-24 season – only to be made available for sale again this summer, with Pochettino sacked.

Again no substantial, permanent offer came and he joined Palace on loan minutes before the summer transfer window closed.

Glasner was told hours before Palace beat Stockport in the FA Cup third round that a “contractual issue” meant he could not play Chalobah, leaving his squad a man short.

On 13 January he told media that Chalobah “wants to stay” – a claim corroborated by BBC Sport from several sources close to the player.

However, a phone call on 14 January from sporting director Paul Winstanley convinced Chalobah that a return to play at Stamford Bridge would be productive, with a prominent role to be expected in the coming weeks.

That conversation followed an earlier, unplanned meeting with Winstanley, his co-sporting director Laurence Stewart and co-owner Behdad Eghbali at Selhurst Park after the 1-1 draw between Palace and Chelsea earlier this month.

Chalobah had walked into the away dressing room after the match to speak with friend Reece James and ended up talking to the three executives.

Palace haven’t criticised Chelsea and accept the terms of the initial agreement made on deadline day in the summer.