As the transfer window’s across Europe slammed shut earlier this week, Chelsea now have over 30 players out on loan all across Europe, so George Stokes takes a look at the best loan team that could be put together.
Matej Delac – FK Sarajevo
Delac spent part of 2014 at Sarajevo where he played a key role in helping them to win the Bosnian title for the first time in 8 years. This one was an easy decision as the Croatian is the only goalkeeper currently out on loan. Now 23, Delac’s days at Chelsea appeared to be numbered with this his eighth loan in the five years he’s been at the Blues. This move isn’t too significant as I don’t ever see Delac appearing in a Chelsea shirt, especially as he is a similar age to current number 1, Thibaut Courtois.
Wallace – Carpi
Almost everyone has now heard about the incredible journey that Italian side Carpi have been on in recent years, and this year they find themselves in Serie A for the first time. 21-year-old Brazilian right-back, Wallace, will spend the season on loan at the newly promoted club after already having seen Italian football two seasons ago on loan at Inter Milan. In 2013 when we signed Wallace, there was a lot of optimism around one of the hottest full-backs and supposed bright future. Now on his third loan spell away from the club, Wallace has yet to make even a bench appearance for Chelsea, but age is still on his side and he could still have a future at Stamford Bridge if this third loan spell goes well.
Kenneth Omeruo – Kasimpasa
Omeruo is someone who I personally have seen a lot of in recent years. After a successful loan spell in Holland for ADO Den Haag, Omeruo spent last season adapting to the English game under Aitor Karanka at Middlesborough last season. Playing with other Chelsea loanees such as Tomas Kalas and Patrick Bamford, Omeruo helped guide Middlesborough to the Championship play-off final. His performances out on loan gave fans plenty of room for optimism, especially when he began to be called up onto the national stage. Omeruo now has 28 caps for Nigeria and featured in all of Nigeria’s games at last summer’s World Cup. Sadly for Chelsea fans, Omeruo’s latest loan move at Kasimpasa in Turkey does include an option to purchase the player permanently at the end of the season.
Andreas Christensen – Borussia Monchengladbach
After joining Chelsea back in 2012, Christensen has progressed superbly in the Chelsea youth sides, winning countless FA Youth Cups and UEFA Youth League. After just one appearance in the Chelsea first team, Christensen now has been given an opportunity for first team football at Borussia Monchengladbach. In the Champions League for this season, this is a huge opportunity for Christensen to show himself on the world stage and look to push himself into the Chelsea side for years to come. A two-year loan spell in Germany will show whether the Danish international has what it takes to play for Chelsea.
Nathan Ake – Watford
Ake seems to have been on the verge of the Chelsea first team for years now. Since 2012, he’s been involved with the first team squad but only made 5 appearances in those three years. A short loan spell at Reading last season didn’t go very well for the Dutch defender, but he’s now been given a chance in the Premier League for newly-promoted Watford. Ake has been part of 13 new arrivals for the Hornets, and although his game time may be limited behind Jose Holebas, he has proved already at just 20 that he is a very versatile player. During the youth sides, Ake has appeared at centre back, left back, defensive midfield and central midfield.
Juan Cuadrado – Juventus
Juan Cuadrado, the gamble that hasn’t paid off. Selling Schurrle back in January to fund a move for the Colombian winger seemed a really good move on paper. Cuadrado hasn’t adapted to life in England and English football, and it’s no surprise to see him return to Italy on a season-long loan move. I do hope he goes out there and proves everyone wrong by having a really good season before coming back to Stamford Bridge and pushing for a first team spot.
Mario Pasalic – AS Monaco
Pasalic has had a really good start to his life in the South of France. Pasalic ended up at Monaco as we took Radamel Falcao on loan and has burst into life. A strong, skilful central midfielder, Pasalic scored two goals during Monaco’s Champions League qualifying rounds where they eventually fell at the hands of Valencia. The Croatian midfielder is now 20 years old and into his second loan spell since joining Chelsea. Personally, I think Pasalic has everything already that you need to play as a box to box midfielder. If he can continue to develop himself in France this season, I see no reason why he can’t find himself back in the first-team picture at Stamford Bridge.
Marco Van Ginkel – Stoke
Van Ginkel has been very unfortunate with injuries since moving to London from Vitesse Arnhem. An anterior cruciate ligament injury kept him out for seven months two seasons ago and then spent last year on loan in Milan. Didn’t impress hugely, but did once again pick up a number of injuries, but this season we will hopefully get to see a lot more of the Dutch central midfielder. Very similar to Pasalic in terms of style, Van Ginkel will spend this season in the Premier League at Stoke City under the guidance of Mark Hughes. Surrounded by some good pros, this loan move could be huge for his development and show Mourinho just what he can do.
Victor Moses – West Ham
Arriving at West Ham on deadline day after signing a new four-year deal with the Champions, Moses can consider himself unlucky to not be in the first team squad for this season. Arguably the most impressive player during the pre-season tour of USA, I, amongst others, thought the Nigerian international would be included in the squad. Once again, for the third season in a row, Moses will spend the season in the Premier League, but not at Chelsea. His move to Liverpool didn’t work and his move at Stoke was 50/50, let’s just hope he can get regular game time at West Ham and impress before coming back.
Dominic Solanke – Vitesse Arnhem
In the last two seasons Solanke has scored 40+ goals for the Chelsea youth teams in amongst his debut for the first team in the Champions League. He becomes just another player to make a loan move to Holland to play for Vitesse and this season, will link up with other-English loanees in Isaiah Brown and Lewis Baker. Doesn’t turn 18 for another two weeks, Solanke has a very bright future ahead of him and has already scored his first Vitesse goal in just his second game. A number of people were calling for Mourinho to use Solanke as our third choice striker this season, which just shows how highly rated he already is amongst the fans.
Patrick Bamford – Crystal Palace
Another young, English striker who the Chelsea fans rate very highly. Slightly older at 21, Chelsea signed Bamford from Nottingham Forest and he is now going into his fourth loan spell during his four years at the club. The other three have been productive for Bamford, with progression all the way up. A season at MK Dons put him onto people’s radars, followed by two Championship loans to Derby and Middlesbrough, he now has been given a chance in the Premier League with Crystal Palace. He’ll be competing with Connor Wickham this season for a starting place and this will be the real test to see if he will ever make it at Chelsea.
What do you think of that loan XI? Is there anyone you think should be in the current first team squad or starting XI?
