Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has acknowledged that up to 15 players are currently in limbo due to the club’s oversized squad, describing the situation as “not good.”
The west London club has been active in the summer transfer window, spending around £162 million on nine new signings.
This includes Wolves winger Pedro Neto for £51.3 million and midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who previously played under Maresca at Leicester, for £30 million.
However, these arrivals have not been matched by an equal number of departures, leaving Chelsea with a bloated squad as the transfer window nears its end.
Notably, Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arrizabalaga remain on Chelsea’s roster despite having little chance of playing for the club again.
Additionally, defender Trevoh Chalobah has been sidelined, and midfielder Conor Gallagher has had to return from a failed deal with Atletico Madrid.
Maresca took 28 players on Chelsea’s pre-season tour of America and has confirmed that these are the players he is working with as the team prepares for their Premier League opener against Manchester City on Sunday.
With 43 first-team players currently under contract, there are numerous players who are being forced to train separately.
Maresca admits that this situation is far from ideal.
“At the moment if I start to think I have 43 players it is not a good thing, I have 28 training with me,” said Maresca on Friday.
“[Co-sporting directors] Paul [Winstanley] and Laurence [Stewart] are in charge of finding solutions for these guys, not me.”
Romelu Lukaku is reportedly a target for Napoli, as part of ongoing complex negotiations related to Chelsea’s interest in Napoli forward Victor Osimhen.
Meanwhile, Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has drawn interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, Trevoh Chalobah has caught the attention of Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.
As for Conor Gallagher, his future remains uncertain following the collapse of a potential move to Atletico Madrid, with manager Enzo Maresca confirming that the England international will not be part of the squad to face Manchester City.
“Conor is back,” he said.
“He is training apart.
“He is doing some medical tests and some training.
“He won’t be involved in the game.
“At this moment, he is trying to find a solution with the club.”
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