Frank Lampard admits two more Chelsea departures are a “possibility” before close of European transfer window

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has admitted both Kenedy and Tiemoue Bakayoko could still leave the club before the European transfer window closes.

Although the Premier League transfer window shut on August 8, before the start of the new season, most of Europe’s big leagues have until Monday to finalise their squads.

Which players could leave Chelsea by next week? Five things to know…

• Chelsea have had a busy summer trying to cut down their squad.
• The Blues have already seen the likes of Danny Drinkwater and Davide Zappacosta leave on loan.
• Tiemoue Bakayoko and Kenedy remain but are being linked with moves away.
• And Frank Lampard admits a departure for both remains a possibility.
• The European transfer window shuts on Monday 2 September.

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Despite being unable to sign new players due to a two-window transfer ban, Chelsea have been busy trimming their squad. The summer has already seen Chelsea get rid of first-team fringe players such as Davide Zappacosta and Danny Drinkwater, with the duo joining Roma and Burnley on loan respectively among many more departures.

And the Blues don’t appear to be done, with Tiemoue Bakayoko and Kenedy being linked with moves away.

Bakayoko has endured a difficult time at Chelsea and spent last season on loan at Milan, with some success. But after being given a fresh chance under Lampard, it appears the French midfielder failed to impress the new boss, being linked with a loan move back to Monaco.

Meanwhile, Kenedy fared slightly better in pre-season but still did not do enough to warrant an appearance in Chelsea’s opening four games this season, though he did make the bench twice. As a result, the Brazilian has been linked with a move to Serie A side Sassuolo, with different reports on the permanence.

And despite nothing being official, Lampard admitted there is still a possibility of Bakayoko and Kenedy leaving Chelsea before Monday.

“It’s a possibility,” he told reporters.

“We are getting to the point now where the window is closing soon. I am clear where my squad is, and they’re our players as it stands.

“In terms of Bakayoko and Kenedy, yeah, for sure, we’ll see how it goes.”

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Chelsea’s “Loan Army” building

Should temporary departures for Bakayoko and Kenedy go through before the transfer window shuts next week, the pair will join a growing list of Chelsea loanees.

The Blues have a growing reputation of sending enough players out on loan to fill full squads and last season had as many as 41 players out across the globe at one time.

This season Chelsea are slightly more subdued, having sold former serial loanees such as Tomas Kalas and Todd Kane, but the Blues do still have 20 players out on loan – before Bakayoko, Kenedy and any other potential late departure is included.

The loanees range from 28-year-old Victor Moses at Fenerbache, loaned with no room for him in the squad, to 18-year-old Ethan Ampadu, sent to RB Leipzig with the hope of steady playing time he would not receive staying at Chelsea.