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Three Chelsea players have tested positive for coronavirus, according to reports, making the Blues the latest Premier League club to be involved in a health crisis.

The Blues already have Mateo Kovacic out due to isolation after he tested positive for Covid last week - with Thomas Tuchel's preparing to face Everton at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.

But according to Goal, three more players have now contracted coronavirus after the Blues took part in a full-contract training session on Wednesday.

The Blues' women's team have also been hit with a coronavirus crisis this week, with players Ann-Katrin Berger and Drew Spence unable to play in their Champions League clash with Wolfsburg after testing positive.  

The Omicron variant of the virus has led to a large increase of cases in the UK, with Wednesday seeing 78,610 be given positive cases - the highest daily number since the pandemic began. 

Three more Chelsea players have tested positive for coronavirus, according to reports

Chelsea already have midfielder Mateo Kovacic isolating after testing positive last week

The new variant has affected the Premier League as well, with several matches being cancelled due to an outbreak at multiple clubs.

Brentford's clash at home Manchester United on Tuesday was postponed until the New Year after the visitors were forced to close down their training centre in the build-up to the match.  

Meanwhile, Burnley's match against Watford on Wednesday was called off two hours before kick-off after the Hornets announced an outbreak in their team. 

Chelsea had a full training session on Wednesday before Thursday's match with Everton

Reports emerged on Thursday afternoon that Leicester's match against Tottenham later that day is set to be called off, after the Foxes reported that nine players now have coronavirus - leaving them with no central defenders.  

Asked whether the Premier League's lucrative TV contracts had influenced their stance, Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers said: 'I'm pretty sure that's the case, yes. 

'In terms of players, managers and coaches, we all want to play the games. But ultimately the health of a player is the priority. If you have players available, you get a better product.' 

Brentford, meanwhile, reported they have 13 cases among player and staff ahead of their trip to Southampton on Saturday, with Bees boss Thomas Frank calling on the entire Premier League weekend and next week's Carabao Cup quarter-finals to be postponed. 

Brentford's Thomas Frank has called for this weekend's Premier League games to be called off

The Bees have recorded 13 positive cases among players and club staff as of Thursday

Frank initially told reporters the total of Brentford cases was at nine but then was informed mid-press conference that four more club personnel tested positive overnight. 

The Danish manager then announced: 'We think we should postpone the full round of Premier League games this weekend. Covid cases are going through the roof at all Premier League clubs, everyone is dealing with it and having problems.

'To postpone this round and also the Carabao Cup round would give everyone a week at least, or four or five days to clean and do everything at the training ground so everything is clean and you break the chain.

'Also in football, you need close contact. Physios need to do their job with players in treatment. We are in dressing room on matchdays, we are travelling by coaches so it's a little bit more difficult to work from home.' 

Frank believes a decision to halt this weekend's round of top-flight fixtures could be enough to sure the busy festive programme will be able to go ahead largely as planned.

'We fully respect that we want to play and it is important football keeps going, and this way we can make sure Boxing Day keeps going, I'm 100 per cent sure of that,' added Frank.

'This Omicron variant is running like wildfire around the world and I think we need to do all we can to protect and avoid it. 

'I think we can do a lot by closing down training grounds for three, four or five days, and then we can go again.'

Frank also backed players to get the vaccine, but insisted that it is up to the individual. Brentford, along with Leeds and Wolves, have the vast majority of their players double jabbed but the same cannot be said about the rest of the league. 

'That is a free choice,' Frank said, when asked about if players should get the vaccine. 'It's a free world but I will definitely recommend it. My biggest recommendation is that they should be vaccinated.' 

Tottenham were the first Premier League club to be affected by the Omicron variant this season, which led to the cancellation of their match with Brighton last weekend.

Antonio Conte announced that 13 players were diagnosed with the virus last week, with the outbreak also leading to the cancellation of their Europa Conference match with Rennes.