Chelsea's failure to hold onto either Kevin De Bruyne or Mohamed Salah has been a constant source of ridicule for the Blues despite their recent successes.

Thomas Tuchel's side won the Champions League last season but the 2021-22 campaign has still brought with it questions of what if? What if the Blues had held onto Salah or De Bruyne?

The pair were sold to Wolfsburg and Roma respectively but are now considered two of the finest players in the Premier League, with Salah particularly impressing so far this term.

An assist and a stunning goal against Manchester City before the international break brought his tally to six goals and three assists in just seven top-flight games, but it is Chelsea who sit in first place.

Eddie Newton, who won the Champions League as Roberto Di Matteo's assistant in 2012, insists that the departure of both players was down to an attitude clash with Jose Mourinho, not ability.

"For me, I think Salah and De Bruyne wasn’t about talent," Newton told Goal.

"It was a personality clash [with Jose Mourinho]. I just didn’t think it was working at the time. I think they were more than good enough, but it was the manager who didn’t see eye-to-eye with them, so it wasn’t going to work.

"For Lukaku, he wasn’t ready at the time, and I don’t care what anyone says."

Chelsea face Brentford after the international break as they look to cement their position at the top of the Premier League table.