Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson are among 12 Chelsea players training away from Xabi Alonso's first team, with their futures at Stamford Bridge looking increasingly uncertain.
Delap and Jackson face uncertain futures
The two strikers have both endured difficult years. Delap failed to stake his claim in his debut season at the club, which was disrupted by a major injury. He cost £30 million from Ipswich 12 months ago but could already be moved on, with Chelsea valuing him at £40 million if he is to leave.
Jackson, meanwhile, was a favourite under Enzo Maresca initially, but was farmed out on loan to Bayern Munich after falling down the pecking order. Both Delap and Jackson look increasingly likely to leave Chelsea, despite the former being keen to stay and prove himself. Jackson has been on Aston Villa's radar, but his £65 million price tag has been an issue.
Second group includes defenders and loanees
Football.london reports that Chelsea want to use three strikers across the season, with last season's top scorer Joao Pedro, new signing Danny Welbeck, and Emmanuel Emegha, who has joined from Strasbourg, the trio the Blues will look to use.
Defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi are also training in the second group. It is being used by players who could go on loan, such as Mykhailo Mudryk, and some young players.
Alonso splits squad ahead of debut season
Other individuals, such as new signing Jordan Henderson, have been training with both the main and second group in an effort to get their fitness levels up. Despite being linked with moves away, Enzo Fernandez and Pedro Neto have been training with Alonso's main group. The Argentine midfielder is on Manchester City's radar and, even though they missed the Chelsea-imposed deadline to table an offer, could make a move late in the window.
Chelsea have more than 40 first-team players, according to the list on the club's website, and Alonso has ultimately decided to split the group as he prepares for his debut season. Even though they have split, there is no repeat of the 'bomb squad' approach that was used in previous seasons, which ultimately led to notable criticism regarding their treatment of players. The two groups train at the same time and on the same pitches.
Last year Chelsea were contacted by the PFA after Raheem Sterling posted a picture of him training at night on his own last September and Disasi shared a photo of his separate changing room last August.
