Tuchel explains Broja and Gilmour departures from Chelsea pre-season tour.

Thomas Tuchel has explained Armando Broja and Billy Gilmour’s departure from Chelsea’s pre-season tour of the United States.

Earlier on Monday, The Athletic reported that Chelsea were close to a deal with West Ham United for Broja.

The 20-year-old striker, who enjoyed a successful loan at Southampton last season, has been a target for several Premier League clubs.

However, Tuchel revealed that Broja had returned to London to receive treatment on his ankle, which he injured in training last week.

Gilmour is set to join up with Chelsea Under-23, who are also preparing for the upcoming season in the United States. He spent last season on loan at Norwich.

He will be joined by Harvey Vale, who starred as England won the Under-19 European Championships last month.

The coach also claimed the players’ removal from the squad was down to the size of the training group, with Tuchel wanting a maximum of 24 players to “keep the quality high”.

Tino Anjorin, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Huddersfield Town, has also left first-team training and is expected to depart on loan again.

Tuchel said: “I would have loved to have had everybody here because Tino, Harvey and Billy had trained at a very high level and it would also have been nice to see them in some matches.

“But in the end, we had to take the decision to keep the quality high in training so we decided for 24 players as a maximum and that’s why we went a bit smaller. Armando had to travel home. He had a little accident in training.

“He twisted his ankle and he needs further examinations and treatments in London. It did not make sense to just have him as an additional player because we need all capacities of treatment for the guys who are actually fit and on the pitch so the best way for him to get the best treatment and as soon as possible back on the pitch was to leave for London.”

Chelsea’s next pre-season game is against Charlotte FC on Wednesday.