Graham Potter has given his squad a day off for transfer deadline day as Chelsea continue to work to add to their squad. The Blues are still in the hunt to capture Enzo Fernandez, while a number of players have been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have had an extended period to prepare for the clash with Fulham on Friday evening having last faced Liverpool on January 22 at Anfield. Potter has had plenty of time to implement his ideas onto the squad and welcome new stars David Datro Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke properly.
Bonding was among Potter's priorities for the period and the Chelsea boss recognised there would be few better opportunities.
READ MORE: Enzo Fernandez signs as Arsenal help out Chelsea in Graham Potter's dream transfer deadline day
"We’ve got some thoughts and we need to try to bring the group together of course," Potter explained. "There are a few new faces – and it's not just about what you do on the grass. It’s about how you interact as a team and how you interact as a group. So there are things we can do and we will use the two weeks to try to do that as best we can.
"Hopefully, there is an element of team bonding - a little bit of building - because we’ve got the time, we’ve got the opportunity to do it, so it seems like it’s a good place to do it."
However, the players have been given a break for deadline day, potentially a wise move with the uncertainty hanging over the squad. Chelsea will hope to have a new member of the squad in training on Wednesday having bid in excess of £105million for Fernandez, but the possibility of departures may have played a larger role in Potter's decision.
Arsenal have some interest in bringing Jorginho to the Emirates following their struggle to land Moises Caicedo, while Hakim Ziyech could depart on loan, with PSG being the most prominent suitor for the Morocco international. Potter's decision ensures no player will dramatically leave training to provide distraction to his session or news to the outside world.
Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have also been present among deadline day speculation. football.london understands that Gallagher had little interest in a move to Everton, and earlier this month reported that Potter shutdown the possibility of a loan to Newcastle or Crystal Palace. The Cobham product has since started against Crystal Palace and Newcastle.
Likewise, Loftus-Cheek is believed to be settled and content with his current role amid interest from Newcastle.
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