Another summer spending splurge has left Enzo Maresca with a bloated Chelsea squad and first-team players being exiled from the group.
Maresca has insisted that the club’s current squad is not a “mess”, telling reporters: "In the USA [during preseason] we had 26 or 27 players so [are there] Chelsea players, 42, 43, yes for sure. But they are not working with me every day. I don't see them. So it is not a mess like it looks from outside, absolutely not."
The 13 training away from the group have been dubbed the ‘Bomb Squad’ and their total transfer fees have been estimated beyond £300million, including players signed by the current Todd Boehly-Clearlake regime.
So, what is the latest with each player and what comes next.
Chelsea bomb squad
Raheem Sterling
The most high-profile of the exiled 13, having been told last week by Enzo Maresca that he prefers a different type of winger and it is best Sterling finds a new club. He has already been stripped of his No7 shirt number.
That is no easy task for a player with still three years to run on his contract and earning £300,000 a week. Standard Sport understands Sterling wants to stay in the Premier League and he has no interest in a move to Saudi Arabia as he looks to play his way back into the England squad. Crystal Palace are among clubs to have registered their interest.
Ben Chilwell
Another who has been told to find a new club. Maresca said this week that Chilwell “is a lovely guy, but with his position, he’s going to struggle with us.”
Marc Cucurella is now the undisputed first-choice left-back at Stamford Bridge, with versatile youngster Renato Veiga also capable. Chilwell has been linked with Manchester United but there is nothing substantial heading into the final week of the summer transfer window.
Trevoh Chalobah
Like Sterling, has been stripped of his shirt number which was given to Joao Felix. He been training away from the squad for a number of weeks, but is attracting interest from a number of suitors.
Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa have all been linked with the centre-back, who could command a fee of around £30million.
Romelu Lukaku
One of the biggest wastes of money in recent years. The Belgian returned to Chelsea from Inter three years ago for what was then a club-record £97.5million fee. One year, and 15 goals, later, Lukaku was shipped back on loan to Inter and, the next season, moved to Roma on another temporary deal.
Lukaku still has two years to run on his Chelsea contract, but the end may be in sight with Napoli hoping to sign the striker permanently as a replacement for Victor Osimhen. A fee of around £25million has been mooted, and could come in the form of a loan deal with an obligation to buy.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Still the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, Kepa has no future at Chelsea with the club signing three shot-stoppers across the last three transfer windows. Kepa spent last season on loan at Real Madrid, where he was signed as a replacement for first-choice Thibaut Courtois - who has suffered a knee injury - but a string of poor performances saw him quickly lose his spot to Andriy Lunin.
Is reportedly holding out hope of a return to Real Madrid this summer but there remains no substantial interest in the 29-year-old forgotten man.
Armando Broja
Things looked bleak for Broja after a nightmare loan spell with Fulham for the second half of last season, but the striker has secured another Stamford Bridge exit.
Ipswich are finalising a season-long loan deal with the Blues, which will become permanent for £30million if the newly promoted side avoid relegation this season.
Deivid Washington
The striker only arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer, joining from Santos for £17million, but the club want him to get minutes elsewhere. He made few appearances for Chelsea last season and a loan deal appears most likely.
Angelo Gabriel
Another summer 2023 signing from Santos who faces a far from certain future. Chelsea are hoping to sell the winger, who joined for £13m last year, after the arrival of Pedro Neto pushed him further down the pecking order.
He spent last season on loan at sister club Strasbourg. Besiktas have been linked but only in a loan spell.
David Datro Fofana
The Ivorian striker joined in January 2023 and made four appearances in the final months of the season before being sent on loan to Union Berlin. Just one goal in 17 appearances saw the loan spell cut short and Fofana was went to Premier League strugglers Burnley, where he scored four goals but could not prevent the club from being relegated.
He does not appear to have hope of any minutes at Chelsea this season as the club look to loan him out. Leicester were linked earlier in the window.
Lucas Bergstrom
Young goalkeeper Lucas Bergstrom has been at Chelsea for six years, most recently extending his contract in February 2024. He most recently saw a loan spell with Brommapojkarna back in his native Finland terminated early.
Tino Anjorin
The England youth international spent last season on loan at Portsmouth as the club won League One to earn promotion back to the Championship, but the midfielder suffered with injuries throughout his spell. Pompey have reportedly shown interest in a reunion.
Alex Matos
The young midfielder looked ready for a place in the Chelsea squad last season before being sent on loan to Huddersfield in January where he made 20 appearances. RC Lens are the latest club to be linked with a loan move for a player who appears to have a bright future.
Harvey Vale
Much like Matos, young midfielder Vale is highly thought of and impressed on loan further down the English leagues last season. He made 47 appearances for League One's Bristol Rovers, scoring three goals and supplying six assists, and another move away looks needed, and likely.
