Chelsea could recall £8.5m defender with 3 starts to get much more valuable player on loan | OneFootball

Things are really starting to get spicy in Chelsea’s January window.

Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised – their main focus is on sales, at least to begin with, and they’ve had since August to work out who they want rid of and what they want in return for them. That should allow things to move pretty quickly – and we’re already 8 days into the new year.

Carney Chukwuemeka has been on the chopping block since the summer, but no buyer was found back then. However it all feels different now. Even just this afternoon we’ve got two competing stories about potential interest in him.

The Athletic are reporting that Borussia Dortmund are keen on a deal which would see Chukwuemeka make the move to the Bundesliga with an option to buy included. But Chelsea don’t seem to like the sound of that – they want a permanent deal.

The only loan they would sanction, according to the Daily Mail‘s exclusive, at least, is one to their sister club Strasbourg. That would allow Carney to pick up some minutes and improve his value ahead of a sale in the summer – as well as helping out a fellow “BlueCo” club.

The issue with Chelsea loans to Strasbourg

Caleb Wiley signs for Chelsea.

The issue here is with FIFA rules – we’re only allowed 3 players on loan at one club, and we’ve hit our limit.

Djordje Petrovic is their first choice goalkeeper, and it would be madness to take him back. Andrey Santos has turned into a key figure in midfield. Both start every game when available.

That leaves one odd one out – Caleb Wiley, the left back who Chelsea signed from MLS this summer. He’s made just 3 starts after picking up an injury, and would be the most expendable if we want to replace him with Chukwuemeka.