THE start of the new Premier League season risks being thrown into chaos after a spate of coronavirus cases among the league’s top stars.
Players heading out on their holidays are also being forced to miss large chunks of pre-season with the big kick-off just 16 days away.
Christian Pulisic, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori are reportedly quarantining after their Greece getawayCredit: Instagram
Paul Pogba has tested positive after being spotted out and about in LondonCredit: Instagram @rakeem_madeit
On Thursday, Paul Pogba and Tanguy Ndombele became the latest players to test positive for Covid-19.
The duo, who play for Manchester United and Tottenham respectively, will miss France’s Nations League games.
In response to Pogba’s illness, United stated: “Everybody at United wishes Paul a speedy recovery ahead of the new season.”
The Red Devils’ opening day fixture against Burnley has already been postponed due to their participation in August’s Europa League knockouts.
And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will also be without Aaron Wan-Bissaka when their preparations get underway.
The right-back must self-isolate for 14 days after travelling to Dubai – with it not known whether he had permission from his club to do so.
The United Arab Emirates is one of several countries on the UK Government’s Covid-19 warning list, demanding anyone flying in from a listed nation quarantine upon arrival.
Chelsea’s squad have also fallen foul of the Government guidelines with as many as EIGHT players having to miss training.
Mason Mount hung out with Didier Drogba during his Mykonos stayCredit: Instagram @masonmount10
Aaron Wan-Bissaka headed to Dubai and now must self-isolate
Frank Lampard’s men face Brighton on Saturday but, while 2,500 fans will be allowed into the AmEx, Tammy Abraham and Co will not.
The England striker joined Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic on the footballers’ holiday island of choice, Mykonos.
Clubs advised their players on where was safest to holiday with the Greek island not on the Government’s list
Ross Barkley also headed to the resort but must still self-isolate along with Jorginho, Emerson and Michy Batshuayi.
The Telegraph report that six Chelsea stars have now tested positive for coronavirus.
And SunSport understand one member of England’s squad plus two other unnamed Premier League footballers, both at Sheffield United, have caught the illness.
Manchester City have already survived one scare after Raheem Sterling attended Usain Bolt’s birthday party, after which the sprint legend came down with Covid-19.
Then taking a test himself, Sterling tested negative for the illness.
A trip to Cannes meant Michy Batshuayi fell foul of the Government’s guidelinesCredit: Instagram / @mbatshuayi
Jorginho is another Chelsea player who went abroad, to Capri in ItalyCredit: Instagram / @jorginhofrello
Meanwhile, in the UK, United’s Salford home of Old Trafford is one area under a local lockdown due to rising infection rates.
Complicating matters further, Uefa’s Nations League kicks off on the eve of the new campaign.
Gareth Southgate’s England travel to Iceland and Denmark with games on September 5 and 8, during which time the squads involved must remain in secure social bubbles.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
