The Blues head coach told Sky Sports News he wants the same squad until the season ends if there is a successful restart.

“It is still uncertain if and when play will get underway. We have big players [out of contract] so that’s something I’m obviously looking at very carefully,” he told Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp.

“The ones who are out of contract here have been great servants for the club, and actually have a lot of feeling for the club.

“Of course they’ll be concerned about themselves, in terms of how training is now is and if the pre-season is a rush they’re going to have to make sure they’re alright.

“So it’s going to have to be something we have to look at, hopefully we can make that arrangement can be made so they can stay with us.

“I would love the squad to look as it has all season, but we’ll have to see how that works.”

Premier League clubs will vote on Monday over whether a first phase of training can resume, which would see players maintaining social distancing guidelines in small groups, in accordance with government restrictions to control the coronavirus.