Frank Lampard has left the door open for potential departures for Callum Hudson-Odoi and Antonio Rudiger.
The Chelsea duo have been out of the starting XI for the first two Premier League games of the campaign, with the latter not in the squad for the Liverpool defeat.
The futures of both players are now under some question, with the England international being linked with a loan move away for the 2020/21 campaign.
As for Rudiger, it looks like the Germany international has slipped to the fifth-choice centre-back, meaning he could be heading out the door for good.
And when asked whether or not the duo could depart the club either on loan or permanently before the transfer window shuts next month, Lampard was coy on their futures.
“It remains to be seen,” Lampard said. “We’re not in a period where the transfer window or market is acting like it has done in recent years in terms of how players move or what level they move at.
“Again the competitive games have just started. I’m very open to those conversations with the players as the next couple of weeks go on.
“My priority will always be making sure I maintain and keep the strongest squad I can for this club but after that of course the individual conversations will happen within that.
“I will try and make sure I go into the season once the window shuts with the squad that I feel is healthy and competitive in a healthy way.”
Hudson-Odoi was linked with a huge move to Bayern Munich in January 2019, however the Blues kept hold of him and he signed a new long-term contract with the club.
However, the 19-year-old started just seven Premier League games last season after recovering from a serious Achilles’ tendon rupture.
With the arrival of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, plus the form of Christian Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi has slipped down the pecking order.
And Lampard has urged his young winger to take his chances when he gets them, including against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday night.
“You say the players we’ve got in his position, at the moment we have Christian Pulisic injured, Hakim Ziyech injured,” Lampard added.
“We played Timo Werner out wide the other day, but the absolute natural winger who is fit at the minute is Callum.
“We know in a Premier League squad and the number of games we’re going to play, we need competition in those areas, back-ups in those areas and players competing to make that position their own.
“That’s where Callum is at and that’s why I keep saying he needs to train, he needs to show in training every day and when he gets his opportunity in games, which he will have tomorrow because he will play against Barnsley.
“He has to show in every minute, on and off the ball, what he can do for the team and that’s the position Callum is at at the minute.
“He’s had an early breakthrough in his career because of his talent, he’s had an injury and now I want to see him flourish again.”
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