Carlo Ancelotti says Everton will have to make some difficult decisions in order to cut their squad size down before the close of the transfer window - but praised the fringe players for the way they have handled being left out.
The Blues boss has used 23 different players so far this season and wants a squad, including three goalkeepers, of no more than 25.
Mason Holgate and Jean-Philippe Gbamin have yet to play this term because of injury while Jonas Lossl also only made the bench.
Ancelotti hopes to add a new centre-half to his ranks before the deadline on October 5 but currently has a squad of 31.
Sandro Ramirez, Mo Besic and Yannick Bolasie - despite saying he hopes to stay and fight for his place - have been told they need to find new clubs.
It is believed that the club are open to offers for Theo Walcott, who has featured only once this season, against Salford City in the Carabao Cup, and who was left out of the last league game with West Brom.
Walcott was an unused substitute in the win over Fleetwood Town in mid-week.
It is not yet clear if Cenk Tosun, who is continuing his recovery from a knee operation, will be fit enough to find a new club before the window shuts next month.
Ancelotti said: "Yes, it is difficult. To manage 23 players is not the easiest way to do because you have to leave players out of the squad and they are not able to travel with us.
"We have to leave some players out of the training. It is not the best way.
"The players understand because we talked about this. They are really professional, really serious and they don't give me any more problems than I already have with choosing, not only the line-up, but the bench and the players who have to go into the stands. But they are really serious and professional and I have to give thanks to them for this."
Ancelotti says he has heard no complaints from those being left out but says, if they were disgruntled, then they must take it up with the club.
"I don't want to talk to them, if they are not happy here then they have to talk with the club about this," he said.
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