Chelsea players were ordered not to attend training on Thursday after someone close to the squad complained of coronavirus symptoms.



Sources have told The Athletic that the situation developed on Wednesday night and a decision was made to cancel Thursday’s session early in the morning before any of the players had arrived.



The person experiencing the symptoms — a fever followed by a dry cough, which can lead to breathing problems — had not been diagnosed with coronavirus as of Thursday lunchtime.



It is understood that the club’s training base at Cobham in Surrey is being thoroughly cleaned as a precautionary measure and there are no members of staff in the building, including head coach Frank Lampard and his backroom team.



Training is set to go ahead on Friday and Lampard’s press conference ahead of Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa is planned to take place at Cobham from 1.30pm.



The club’s preparations...