Six Chelsea players have not been given squad numbers for new Premier League season
Chelsea have not handed out squad numbers to six first-team players, suggesting they will not feature this term.
Six Chelsea players have NOT been given a squad number, hinting that they will not be part of Thomas Tuchel's plans this season.
Backed by new owner Todd Boehly, the Blues have been particularly active in the transfer market, drafting in both Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly as well as youngsters Carney Chukwuemeka and Gabriel Slonina from Aston Villa and Chicago Fire respectively.
Conor Gallagher and Armando Broja have both returned from loans, while there's strong speculation regarding a move for Marc Cucurella being done and dusted despite Brighton's club statement indicating it is not the case.
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There's even links to Barcelona trio Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay.
And a flurry of new arrivals means a slew of Chelsea stars will therefore be made surplus to requirements going into the new campaign.
Young defender Levi Colwill, who spent last season on loan at Huddersfield Town, has not been given a shirt number and looks set to head to Brighton as part of the Cucurella deal.
Ross Barkley, who previously wore the No.8 and No.18 shirts for Chelsea, has not been assigned a number. He played six times in the Premier League last term and scored the club's winning goal in the final game of the school against Watford.
£33 million signing Michy Batshuayi finally looks set to leave the club after four loan spells at three clubs, with Brazilian Kenedy also surely on his way out.
21-year-old Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour's first-team future looks bleak after he was with the Under 23 side for pre-season.
He has attracted interest from Everton, while Wales international Ethan Ampadu could head back to Italy on loan after spending last season at Venezia.
On their official website, Chelsea have confirmed Koulibaly - after getting John Terry's approval - will wear the No.26.
Sterling will take the No.17 that he has been wearing in pre-season, with Gallagher and Broja sporting No.23 and No.18 - numbers that both wore at Crystal Palace and Southampton last season respectively.
18-year-old starlet Chukwuemeka, who has joined for £20 million, will wear No.30.
Chelsea start the new Premier League campaign away at Everton, managed by their record goalscorer and former boss Frank Lampard.
Topics: Chelsea, Premier League, Thomas Tuchel
Josh Lawless