Frank Lampard has left Tiemoue Bakayoko and Danny Drinkwater at home for the second time this week, with Chelsea set to listen to offers for the midfielders.
Bakayoko and Drinkwater were not part of the squad for Wednesday night’s victory over Red Bull Salzburg and did not travel to Germany for the final pre-season friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.
Head coach Lampard insisted he had not shut the door on any player in midweek, but Bakayoko and Drinkwater appear to face bleak futures at Stamford Bridge.
Bakayoko spent last season on loan at AC Milan, while Drinkwater did not play a single competitive minute under previous head coach Maurizio Sarri despite staying at the club.
Lampard has given both players a chance during pre-season and has taken a look at them in his side, but they have dropped out of the reckoning with the start of the Premier League season just a week away.
Bakayoko and Drinkwater were not part of the squad for Wednesday night’s victory over Red Bull Salzburg and did not travel to Germany for the final pre-season friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.
Head coach Lampard insisted he had not shut the door on any player in midweek, but Bakayoko and Drinkwater appear to face bleak futures at Stamford Bridge.
Bakayoko spent last season on loan at AC Milan, while Drinkwater did not play a single competitive minute under previous head coach Maurizio Sarri despite staying at the club.
Lampard has given both players a chance during pre-season and has taken a look at them in his side, but they have dropped out of the reckoning with the start of the Premier League season just a week away.
Chelsea are now likely to listen to permanent or loan offers for both Bakayoko and Drinkwater, although neither man is currently thought to be close to a move away.
Paris Saint-Germain had shown an interest in Bakayoko, but the French club have since signed Idrissa Gueye from Everton, who have also been linked to the 24-year-old.
Paris Saint-Germain had shown an interest in Bakayoko, but the French club have since signed Idrissa Gueye from Everton, who have also been linked to the 24-year-old.
Drinkwater’s biggest stumbling block in finding a new club could be his Chelsea wages, which top £100,000-a-week.
Both players joined Chelsea in the summer of 2017 for a combined total of around £75 million, but they have now failed to make an impact on three different coaches – Antonio Conte, Sarri and Lampard.
Both players joined Chelsea in the summer of 2017 for a combined total of around £75 million, but they have now failed to make an impact on three different coaches – Antonio Conte, Sarri and Lampard.
N’Golo Kante has given Lampard a boost ahead of the Premier League kick-off against Manchester United next Sunday, as he travelled with the squad to Germany.
Kante had not played in any of Chelsea’s previous pre-season friendlies because of a long-standing knee problem, but it appears the France international is now nearing full fitness.
Kante had not played in any of Chelsea’s previous pre-season friendlies because of a long-standing knee problem, but it appears the France international is now nearing full fitness.