Chelsea striker Liam Delap has been stripped of the club's number nine shirt and is currently training away from the first team as the Blues look to trim their squad before the transfer window closes on 1 September.
Delap is among a group of players working separately from the main squad at Chelsea's Cobham training base, a cohort that also includes forward Nicolas Jackson and winger Mykhailo Mudryk, both of whom could depart before the deadline. The Englishman's number nine shirt has since been handed to fellow forward Joao Pedro.
Despite the separation, club sources have moved to clarify that the arrangement should not be compared to last season's so-called "bomb squad" policy, when a number of fringe players were frozen out entirely, training at different times, on different pitches, and in separate buildings from the rest of the squad. That approach, which affected players including Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi, drew scrutiny from the Professional Footballers' Association, which contacted the club over concerns about how those players were being treated. It is understood the union has no similar concerns about the current setup.
This time around, the smaller training group is working adjacent to head coach Xabi Alonso's main squad rather than in isolation. Disasi and defender Tosin Adarabioyo are also part of the group, alongside new arrivals Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson. On Wednesday, 12 players were involved in the secondary group, though that figure is subject to change, with academy players also featuring and movement between the two groups still possible.
Chelsea are understood to be seeking £65m for Senegal international Jackson, who spent the previous campaign on loan at Bayern Munich, and £50m for Delap. Disasi, meanwhile, carries an asking price of £25m as the club looks to offload several players from an oversized squad currently numbering 40 senior professionals.
Mudryk, 25, has not featured in a competitive fixture since November 2024 but is now free to play again after resolving a doping case and is available for a loan move. Adarabioyo, 28, has reportedly attracted interest from Benfica, Marseille, and several Premier League clubs as speculation over his future continues.
Delap's situation marks a notable change in fortunes for the 22-year-old, who arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer in a £30m deal from Ipswich Town. Despite being handed the prestigious number nine shirt upon signing, his first season in west London did not go to plan. He managed just one Premier League goal from 28 appearances in the competition, 16 of which came off the bench.
Chelsea's efforts to streamline their squad reflect broader financial and tactical considerations as the club continues to navigate spending regulations while trying to build a competitive squad under Alonso. With the transfer deadline approaching, further departures involving those in the secondary training group appear likely, though the club has been careful to frame the current setup as a practical measure rather than a disciplinary one.
How the situation resolves for Delap specifically remains to be seen, with his valuation at £50m suggesting Chelsea remain open to a sale rather than simply working him back into first-team contention.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.