Players had been frozen out under Enzo Maresca

Chelsea’s preference would be to move players on

Liam Rosenior will hold talks with Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi before deciding whether the pair have a future at Chelsea.

The head coach, who wants to assess his new squad before con­cluding whether signings are required this month, has been focusing on preparations for the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at home against Arsenal on Wednesday and has not had a chance to look at whether Sterling and Disasi should be brought back in from the cold.

The duo have not played this season and been up for sale since last summer but buyers have been in short supply. Disasi, the former Monaco centre-back, has been in limbo and the issue with Sterling is that the former England winger has 18 months on a contract worth about £325,000 a week. Chelsea’s preference would be to move players on this month but Rosenior wants to speak to them to work out the best way forward.