Loftus-Cheek and Bakayoko 'to be handed pre-season lifeline by Chelsea'

Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tiemoune Bakayoko are among the Chelsea loanees from last season set for a pre-season lifeline under Thomas Tuchel, according to reports.

Loftus-Cheek was deemed surplus to requirements under Frank Lampard last season at Stamford Bridge and was loaned out to west London neighbours Fulham, but failed to keep them in the Premier League.

Bakayoko, meanwhile, has not played for the Blues since the 2017-18 season and spent the 2020-21 campaign at Napoli under Gennaro Gattuso.

But according to Goal, both players will get the chance to impress Tuchel next month as the German will invite the pair back to make up the numbers in the absence of those at Euro 2020 this summer.

The report also says Marc Guehi and Armando Broja, who spent the last campaign at Swansea and Vitesse Arnhem respectively, will also take part in Chelsea's pre-season training.

Loftus-Cheek has played just ten times for Chelsea since the end of the 2018-19 season and faces an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge upon his return from Fulham, where he made 30 league appearances for the Cottagers.

Bakayoko, meanwhile, has also had loan spells at AC Milan and former club Monaco since he last donned a Blues shirt.

The Blues first-team players not involved in major international tournaments this summer will return back to their Cobham training base on July 5.

Chelsea have more players involved at Euro 2020 than any other side, a list that includes the likes of Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho and N'Golo Kante - who have all made the knockout stages with their teams.

In fact, only one of the 17 players at the summer tournament - Scotland's Billy Gilmour - failed to make it out of the group stage so is expected to return before the other players at the European Championships.

However, Gilmour is wanted by Premier League new boys Norwich City on a season-long loan deal so there is doubt as to whether the 20-year-old will play a part in Chelsea's pre-season at all.

Upon returning to pre-season training in early July, the European champions have a training camp in Ireland booked and will also face two high-profile pre-season friendlies against Tottenham and Arsenal as part of the Mind Series.

The Blues also face Europa League winners Villarreal in the European Super Cup just three days before the west Londoners' Premier League campaign kicks off at home to Crystal Palace on August 14.