Mauricio Pochettino makes key Chelsea transfer admission amid Gallagher and Lukaku uncertainty

Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that difficult decisions may be required in the final week of the transfer window with the possibility that players could still leave Chelsea. The Blues boss has previously stated he would prefer to work with a squad no bigger than 23 players, with supporter from the club's development squad. and the west London side currently carry a number in excess of that figure.

The likes of Romelu Lukaku, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Malang Sarr have trained separately from the first team squad for the duration of the summer and have yet to find moves. Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah too have frequently been linked to transfers away from the club, while there are a number of candidates who could depart the club on loan.

While Lukaku, Hudson-Odoi and Sarr have been absent from Pochettino's plans thus far, and Chalobah has been ruled out of the season's first matches due to injury, Gallagher has played a key role for the club in their first two outings. The 23-year-old has played the deepest role in midfield to allow Enzo Fernandez more freedom in the side.

Every word Mauricio Pochettino said on two Chelsea transfers, Petrovic, Lukaku and Luton

Pochettino admitted tough decisions were to come, but could offer nothing on the suggestion Gallagher could depart.

He said: «Yes. Like we are working, other clubs are working and maybe talking with some of our players. We need to be aware of that.»

«I don’t know nothing [on Gallagher],» he added, «At the moment, I didn’t hear anything and I wasn’t informed of some situations with our players. At the moment, I don’t know nothing. The club didn’t inform and the player didn’t tell me anything.

»He is doing well. I think he is a really important player through his