Enzo Maresca says Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka are likely to be the first Chelsea players to be asked to leave in January due to lack of game time.
England left-back Chilwell has made just one appearance this season which came as a half-time substitute in a 5-0 win over Barrow in the Carabao Cup.
The 27-year-old trained separately at the start of the season as he eyed a move away from the club, but that did not materialize and has since been part of first-team training .
Meanwhile, Chukwuemeka, a £20m signing from Aston Villa in January 2023, has been restricted to substitute appearances in the Conference League, although he was not in the squad for Thursday's 5-1 thrashing of Shamrock Rovers.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea's trip to Everton on Sunday, Maresca expects both to want to leave. He said: “Unfortunately, there are players who have not played much with us in all competitions like (Ben) Chilwell, like Carney (Chukwuemeka).
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“They are probably the first ones (to say) they want to go because they train every day, because they want to play games and if they don't play games they might the thought of leaving.
“Each player has a slightly different situation, so we are going to see if some of them come and knock on the door to say 'I want to leave' or something like that. We will try to find a solution.”
Maresca has encouraged his Chelsea youngsters to stay around the first team but has not ruled out striker Marc Guiu, who scored a hat-trick against Shamrock, going on loan in January .
“I think with young players like Marc (Guiu), like Josh (Acheampong), like Ty (Tyrique George), for me the best thing is for them to be with us,” said Maresca.
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“They understand every day how we want to play, they can grow, we can teach them how we want them to play, so I think it's better if they will stay with us.
“Then it also depends a little on the wishes of the players. If, in this case, it is Marc's desire to get more minutes and play more, we will sit with him and make a decision together.”
Maresca has been a delight in a series of games against some opposition in Europe, where he has given players struggling to break into his Premier League selection big game time.
They finished top of the Conference League table ensuring they would go straight to the last 16, meaning a break from European duty until March.
“I'm not worried about the next three months, if the players are happy or not,” said Maresca. “We have a lot of games, if they do the right things, if they work right they will definitely all have a chance to play.
“We have three games next week (against Everton, Fulham and Ipswich), so we will continue to play a lot of games. Then in January the FA Cup starts.
“Game by game we try to pick the best XI, or the ones we think are right for that game.”
Reece James, who has not featured since November's draw with Arsenal, was expected to make a partial return to first-team training on Friday as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
“That doesn't mean he will be with us on Sunday or next Sunday,” Maresca said. “The plan is part of the session he will be with the team from there to try to build the right conditions two.”
