Chelsea: Thomas Tuchel admits certain players ‘may want to leave’ the club this summer

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has admitted that certain members of his squad want to leave the club this summer.

The European champions have a number of out-of-favour players who have returned from loan spells, while other players might also wish to look elsewhere after struggling for game time last season despite staying at Stamford Bridge.

Tuchel will give every player a chance but will have some big calls to make before the summer transfer window shuts on August 31.

Thomas Tuchel has admitted certain Chelsea players may want to leave the club this summer

The likes of Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have returned from loan spells last season

The likes of Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have returned from loan spells last season

The likes of Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have returned from loan spells last season

When asked about the sizeable group he possesses with loan stars returning, he told the Blues’ official website: ‘I have never had that before.

‘That was new, I was not scared about it, but I was curious to see how the mentality is because, don’t forget, some of them leave their families behind, some of them want to stay in their loan clubs, some of them have not that possibility.

‘Some of them have done two or three pre-seasons here already. Some of them want to look absolutely for the chance to stay, some of them want to maybe leave. They’re humans, they’re not robots and that’s why we have to accept it’s not the easiest situation also for them.

‘But what I’ve experienced every day is the complete opposite – it’s a very positive group, hardworking, full of desire to learn, hungry in every training session and ready to go.

‘It’s such a good mix with the five or six guys who were with us here in the last half-a-year. I’m absolutely happy because it’s so much easier than I thought, it’s so easy and so nice to be the coach of these guys. 

‘There are possibilities for all of us and this group deserves our full attention, and they get it.

Tammy Abraham struggled for game time at Chelsea and is being linked with a move away

Davide Zappacosta spent last season on loan at Genoa

Davide Zappacosta spent last season on loan at Genoa

Tiemoue Bakayoko is also back at Chelsea after a loan spell with Napoli

Tiemoue Bakayoko is also back at Chelsea after a loan spell with Napoli

Davide Zappacosta and Tiemoue Bakayoko have also returned from loan spells

‘I don’t judge on where you come from or what your history is, or what you earn or what your status is. I’m in charge of this group so they get my 100 per cent. 

‘I give my everything, they give it back, they make me smile, I give even more, that makes them smile, they give even more.’

There is speculation over a number of players and their futures at the club, most notably Tammy Abraham, who has been linked with Arsenal, West Ham and Aston Villa. The striker barely got a look-in after Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as boss in January, yet was still the squad’s top scorer for the season.

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Marcos Alonso, Willy Caballero and Emerson Palmieri also found games hard to come by last term.

The likes of Ross Barkley, Ruben-Loftus Cheek, Michy Batshuayi, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Kenedy and Davide Zappacosta have returned from loan spells and might find it hard to break back into the fold at Stamford Bridge. Ethan Ampadu is among the other returning loanees, although he is one for the future.

Fikayo Tomori, Marc Guehi, Victor Moses, Olivier Giroud, Marco van Ginkel, Danilo Pantic and Izzy Brown have all left the club already this summer, while starlet Billy Gilmour has gone on loan to Norwich to gain experience. 

Olivier Giroud is among the squad players who have already left Chelsea this summer

Olivier Giroud is among the squad players who have already left Chelsea this summer

Olivier Giroud is among the squad players who have already left Chelsea this summer

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