Liam Delap's Chelsea Future: Can He Rediscover His Form?

Delap has been replaced by Joao Pedro as the club’s number nine. Pedro, who arrived from Brighton during the same transfer window last season, generally performed well while Delap received fewer opportunities.

The English forward was subsequently placed in a group of roughly 12 players who train apart from, but near, new manager Xabi Alonso’s senior squad at Cobham.

Alonso’s decision is understandable because he must manage a squad of approximately 40 players while preparing for his first competitive fixture, a Premier League match at Fulham on Monday.

Nevertheless, the change disappointed players who were already unsure about their futures but had previously continued training with the main group.

The revised setup is intended to ensure those players remain connected to the senior squad. Chelsea say movement between the groups remains possible, noting that new arrivals Jordan Henderson and Welbeck are improving their fitness in the secondary group even though both feature in Alonso’s plans.

Last season, Chelsea were one of several clubs to operate a group commonly described as a “bomb squad”, separating players such as Raheem Sterling and Disasi from the senior team. They trained on another pitch, in a separate section of the facility and at different times.

Some members of that group publicly criticised how they were treated, prompting the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), which represents players, to caution Chelsea over the arrangement.

Fifa has since prohibited this type of treatment.

Chelsea say the present group remains near the senior team and shares its gym, changing rooms and dining facilities. According to the club, these measures followed a review of the problems with its previous approach.

The club also wants to resolve broader cultural concerns, with some sources having previously characterised the internal environment as “soulless” or “transactional”.

Delap is not alone in having doubts over his future, as Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson and defender Tosin Adarabioyo are also training with the secondary group.

Tosin has also surrendered the number four shirt to newly recruited midfielder Valentin Barco.