Chelsea have a huge squad under Enzo Maresca, and it’s currently only getting bigger. The Italian named a 28-man touring group to head to America this summer, and even that didn’t include Euro 2024 stars Marc Cucurella, Cole Palmer, and Conor Gallagher.
Moises Caicedo also wasn’t named in the initial list of travelling players but met up with his teammates in California before the first friendly against Wrexham. Enzo Fernandez is another enjoying time off following his Copa America exploits. Adding in these stars, and it’s already up to a playing group of 33.
Then consider those left behind. Alfie Gilchrist and Trevoh Chalobah both played their part last season under Mauricio Pochettino, while Deivid Washington was in constant limbo between the academy and first team. Cesare Casadei went on loan but returned in January to fill a gap. In total, there are over £100million worth of players signed since the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership took over in 2022 that haven’t made the journey across the Atlantic.
To make matters more complicated, there is only a certain amount of these players that can be sent on loans across Europe. In the past, Chelsea have made use of the system to develop players before often selling them on – or in some cases, simply sending them out for years on end before watching the contracts expire.
The current rules only allow for six players to be sent on loan outside of England, though. When factoring in the multi-club system with RC Strasbourg and the fact they are expected to take at least two (if not maxing out at three player limit) from Chelsea, there aren’t as many options left.
Caleb Wiley, who arrived for around £8.5million from Atlanta United but is currently at the Olympic Games with the USA, is likely to be one of those sent to Strasbourg. Now under new management – former Hull City boss and the highly-rated Liam Rosenior – the Ligue 1 side will feel the hoped benefit of Chelsea’s riches.
Last term they got Angelo Gabriel for the entire season, and he impressed in his first year of senior football, while Andrey Santos joining in January gave Patrick Vieira the kick that was needed to stave off relegation. Vieira parted ways with BlueCo earlier this month in a surprise exit.
It wouldn’t have been a surprise if he, like the Strasbourg supporters, had grown frustrated at the recruitment. Under Rosenior, Chelsea are thought to be planning on sending Santos back after pre-season. That will be two of the six international spots full, with one more at Strasbourg remaining.
The list of players not on tour and currently a candidate is much longer than four. Angelo himself is among them, as are David Datro Fofana, Washington, Casadei, Gabriel Slonina, and also the newly signed Renato Veiga. Marc Guiu has a chance in America to prove he’s worth a punt in the senior side under Maresca but may well be another who is seeking a loan come the start of the Premier League season in three weeks.
The Cobham graduates – and other youngsters purchased under Boehly-Clearlake – also looking for loans include (but are not limited to) Bashir Humphreys, Alex Matos, Harvey Vale, Leo Castledine, and Alfie Gilchrist. Having all been on EFL moves before, they could make similar exits but cannot be discounted for an international loan as well.
Chelsea’s push to bring in Villarreal goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen opens up the prospect of Djordje Petrovic leaving the club, and if no sale is possible, then he will also be after a loan. The stockpile of shot-stoppers currently still on the books creates its own problems.
Lucas Bergstrom, Eddie Beach, and Kepa Arrizabalaga will all be without first-team football and hoping to benefit from loans – or, in Kepa’s case, a sale – that are made increasingly hard to find given the sheer numbers. Omari Kellyman was signed for £19million and could turn to a loan if he doesn’t make the cut under Maresca as well.
All of this comes amid initial reports that it would be Chelsea signing the brother of Rennes attacker Desire Doue. Instead, Guela Doue, who plays at right-back, will go straight to RC Strasbourg, Fabrizio Romano says. This will save Chelsea from using up yet another international loan, but there are still plenty of calls to make.
Lesley Ugochukwu was recalled from being a backup in the French Olympic squad to take part in pre-season, but the plan is thought to be for him to leave on loan as well. Initial suggestions are that the club wishes for a Premier League move, but interest is there from teams across Europe.
What it leaves is a pile of players unlikely to have significant first-team roles, all competing for a limited (and reducing number due to the Strasbourg links) or international loan spots. There is an unlimited amount of domestic loans that can be completed, but being efficient and making the most of these deals is paramount.
Last season Chelsea effectively wasted three of what was seven, sending out Kepa, Romelu Lukaku, and Hakim Ziyech because they couldn’t find permanent homes for the big earners. Slonina struggled while away, and Fofana fell out with his manager at Union Berlin before saving himself under Vincent Kompany at Burnley.
This time around there are more players to consider and fewer spots than usual to make use of. Jorgensen may well arrive before any of this is done if Chelsea and Villarreal can agree on a £21million deal but so far no first-team loans have been completed, and it promises to cause big issues in the coming weeks.
