Enzo Maresca says Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka are likely to be the first Chelsea players to ask to leave in January due to a lack of game time.
England left-back Chilwell has made just one appearance this season which came as a half-time substitute in the 5-0 win over Barrow in the Carabao Cup.
The 27-year-old trained separately at the start of the season as he sought a move away from the club, but that did not materialize and he has been part of first-team training ever since.
Meanwhile, Chukwuemeka, a £20m signing from Aston Villa in January 2023, has been restricted to substitute appearances in the Conference League, although he was not in the squad for Thursday's 5-1 defeat at Shamrock Rovers.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea's trip to Everton on Sunday, Maresca expects both to want to leave. He said: “There are players who unfortunately haven't played a lot with us in all competitions like (Ben) Chilwell, like Carney (Chukwuemeka).
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“They are probably the first ones (to say) that they want to leave because they train every day, because they want to play games, and if they don't play games they probably think about leaving.
“Each player is a slightly different situation, so we'll see if some of them come knocking on the door to say 'I want to leave' or something like that. We'll try to find a solution.”
Maresca has encouraged his Chelsea youngsters to stay in the first team but has not ruled out striker Marco Guiu, who scored a hat-trick against Shamrock, starting on loan in January.
“I think with young players like Marc (Guiu), like Josh (Acheampong), like Ty (Tyrique George), for me the best thing is for them to be with us,” Maresca said.
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“They can understand every day how we want to play, they can grow, we can teach them how we want to play, so I think it's better if they stay with us.
“Then it also depends a little on the player's wishes. If, in this case, Marc's wish is to get more minutes and play more, we sit with him and decide together.”
Maresca has had the luxury of a string of games against limited opposition in Europe, during which he has given significant playing time to players struggling to break into his Premier League squads.
They finished top of the Conference League table, securing direct passage to the last 16, meaning a break from European commitments until March.
“I'm not worried about the next three months, whether the players are happy or not,” Maresca said. “We have a lot of games, if they do the right things, if they do the right thing, for sure everyone will have a chance to play.
“We have three games next week (against Everton, Fulham and Ipswich) so we continue to play a lot of games. Then the FA Cup starts in January.
“Game by game we will try to pick the best XI, or the ones we think are right for that game.”
Reece James, who has not featured since November's draw with Arsenal, was expected to make a partial return to first-team training on Friday as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
“That doesn't mean he'll be with us on Sunday or next Sunday,” Maresca said. “The plan is part of the session, he will be with the team and then try to create the right conditions for him.”