Chelsea forwards Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap and Mykhailo Mudryk are among as many as 12 players working separately from Xabi Alonso’s main group at the club’s Cobham training ground, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Club insiders are keen to point out this arrangement differs from the controversial ‘bomb squad’ setup seen during earlier years under the BlueCo ownership. The inclusion of summer arrivals Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck in this contingent is cited as evidence of the different approach. The collection of players training apart from Alonso’s senior squad represents a varied mix.
The timing coincides with Chelsea’s opening Premier League fixture against Fulham at Craven Cottage approaching. Jackson, Delap and Mudryk find themselves in a distinct cohort, joined by defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi alongside the newcomers Henderson and Welbeck.
The experienced additions Henderson and Welbeck are integrated into this session while they familiarise themselves with their new surroundings, and their participation in specific groups depends on their individual training loads and the sessions Alonso conducts with the primary squad.
Alonso is collaborating with the club’s football directors to reduce his squad options before the domestic campaign commences this week. At present, Chelsea’s official website lists 41 players in the first-team setup, a figure that does not account for Disasi. This total does encompass several academy products who have featured in and around the senior side recently.
Certain individuals within this distinct collective, who continue utilising the first-team amenities at Chelsea’s Surrey headquarters rather than the separate arrangements of previous years, are available for transfer. Club sources maintain Delap could be sold for figures exceeding £50million, while Jackson could depart should any suitor meet his £65million price tag.
Emmanuel Emegha, who joined from Strasbourg during the current transfer window, is anticipated to feature in Alonso’s long-term vision for the 2026/27 season, where the Dutch coach intends to rotate him with Welbeck and Joao Pedro in the centre-forward position at Stamford Bridge.
Disasi and Adarabioyo are also anticipated to leave the club. Both centre-backs have attracted interest from clubs domestically and internationally, though no discussions have progressed significantly at this stage.
Mudryk, meanwhile, could move on a temporary basis. The Ukrainian wide player, who recently resumed his football career after serving a substantial suspension, is yet to secure a loan destination.