Enzo Maresca has provided fresh verdicts on the futures of five Chelsea stars ahead of their Premier League fixture away to West Ham United. The Blues failed to score in their season opener against Crystal Palace with just one shot on target managed at Stamford Bridge.
Nicolas Jackson, who netted twice at London Stadium last campaign, is available after a ban, Maresca has stated he won't be in the squad amid expectations of his departure. "He's available but he's not going to be part of the squad because, as we already said, we have two strikers," Maresca admitted in a press conference on Thursday morning.
"We have two players in that position and also we know something can happen before the transfer window closes. No idea [if he is close to leaving], to be honest. No idea. You know already from last season that I prefer to be focused on training sessions, prepare the game and these kind of things. I don't know."
In addition to Liam Delap and Joao Pedro joining, that Maresca referenced, Jamie Gittens has also signed and the club are still pursuing two more attacking talents, with negotiations for Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons with Manchester United and RB Leipzig ongoing.
With these potential additions, further departures seem likely, and Maresca gave a definitive update when asked about Christopher Nkunku, Ben Chilwell, and Raheem Sterling.
"Christo is with us - like Nico - but it's the same answer as Nico. And the other two players [Chilwell and Sterling], they are training apart, waiting for some solution," he said. Carney Chukwuemeka is another who could be on his way out, with Borussia Dortmund, where he was on loan last season, in advanced talks to bring him back.
The German heavyweights are also eyeing up Aaron Anselmino, with the Chelsea head coach convinced he needs to leave for one obvious reason.
On the Argentine, he said: "Aaron is training with us. He's training very hard. He's a fantastic boy. Good player, but he needs to play games. He needs to go, he needs to play games. So he's another player that is waiting for a solution."
Even though Anselmino can fill in at centre-back, a position currently weakened by injuries, he has been given the nod to move on. Maresca has openly stated his desire to bring in a new central defender, yet Josh Acheampong's performance against Palace might have altered his perspective.
"I already said that we are looking for an internal solution and I showed that last game against Palace, and we'll see what happens," he conceded. "I said and I repeat again, probably I need to improve my English. We are looking for an internal solution and we'll see if something happens."