Chelsea have outlined their latest ‘bomb squad’ containing eight players who have been told they have no future at the club under Enzo Maresca and will be training away from the first team until they find a new team.
The Blues operated a similar technique last year and eventually managed to move on a large number of players such as Romelu Lukaku and Angelo, although many of their unwanted stars left on loan and will face the same treatment this summer.
The likes of Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi and Armando Broja are all in familiar territory after unsuccessful loan stints last season, along with Ben Chilwell, according to TEAMtalk.
Trevoh Chalobah is also in the bomb squad despite starring for Maresca at the Club World Cup and being an integral piece of Chelsea’s squad after being recalled from a loan at Crystal Palace in January.
Christopher Nkunku and Lesley Ugochukwu make up the eight-man squad, although the latter is more likely to depart on loan rather than be forced into a permanent sale.
Bomb squad facing familiar fate as Chelsea look to cash in
Chelsea are turning their attention to outgoings after spending more than €240m on signings this summer, with the ‘bomb squad’ likely to be pushed out with urgency.
Like last year, interest has been minimal in Sterling, Disasi and Chilwell due to their wages but Broja has been pursued by Bundesliga sides, with RB Leipzig potentially open to signing the striker as a replacement for Benjamin Sesko.
Chalobah was also in last year’s bomb squad, leading to his loan to Palace, but, despite impressive performances upon his return, Chelsea are still keen to sell the defender due to his ability to command ‘pure profit’ for PSR as an academy graduate.
Nkunku could also depart, with Bayern Munich thought to be interested, but the 27-year-old is not believed to be a priority target and may not leave Chelsea until later in the summer if their asking price drops.
Chelsea are also looking to loan out youngsters like Mike Penders and Marc Guiu, while the futures of other forgotten stars like David Datro Fofana, Renato Veiga and Carney Chukwuemeka are still unclear, with none of them being part of the first team currently.
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