Chelsea to offload five players before transfer deadline?

Chelsea have identified five first team players that they are keen to get rid of before Tuesday's transfer deadline, according to a report.

Romelu Lukaku has been the big-money arrival at Stamford Bridge this summer, but Thomas Tuchel has also been trimming his squad by dispensing of out-of-favour players.

Fifteen individuals have already left the club since the start of the transfer window, including Tammy Abraham to Roma and Kurt Zouma to West Ham United.

The Daily Mirror have outlined five more players that could depart either on loan or permanently before the end of play tomorrow - Ross Barkley, Danny Drinkwater, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Lewis Baker.

All five are midfielders who spent time away from West London last season and are unlikely to get much playing time for the Blues this year.

Barkley has been linked with a move to Aston Villa, where he spent last season, while Drinkwater could make the switch to Championship side Reading.

Meanwhile, Bakayoko is set to sign a loan deal with AC Milan, Loftus-Cheek may follow him to Italy and Baker has been told he can be sold.