Delap and Jackson among 12 Chelsea players exiled from Alonso's first-team group

Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson are among 12 Chelsea players training away from Xabi Alonso’s first-team group at Stamford Bridge, with both strikers facing increasingly uncertain futures at the club.

Delap, who cost £30 million from Ipswich Town 12 months ago, endured a disrupted debut season hampered by a major injury and failed to establish himself in the side. Chelsea are understood to value him at £40 million if he departs. Jackson, a favourite under previous head coach Enzo Maresca early last season, was subsequently loaned to Bayern Munich after falling down the pecking order. He has attracted interest from Aston Villa, though his £65 million price tag has so far proved a sticking point.

Chelsea are reported to want three strikers across the coming season, with last season’s top scorer João Pedro, new signing Danny Welbeck, and Emmanuel Emegha — who has joined from Strasbourg — the trio Alonso intends to use.

Defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi are also part of the second group, alongside players being considered for loan moves, including Mykhailo Mudryk, and a number of younger squad members. New signing Jordan Henderson has been training with both groups as he works to build his fitness.

Despite reported interest from Manchester City — who missed a Chelsea-imposed deadline to table a formal offer but could yet move late in the window — midfielder Enzo Fernández has been training with Alonso’s main group. Pedro Neto, also linked with a departure, is similarly part of the primary setup.

Chelsea’s official website lists more than 40 first-team players, and Alonso has opted to divide the squad as he prepares for his first full season in charge. The club has been careful to distance the arrangement from the so-called ‘bomb squad’ approach that drew widespread criticism in previous seasons. Both groups train simultaneously and on the same pitches — a deliberate contrast to the situation last September, when the PFA contacted Chelsea after Raheem Sterling posted a photo of himself training alone at night, and Disasi shared an image of a separate changing room.