The January transfer window is just starting to heat up and it provides some frustrated Chelsea stars with the chance to seek pastures new this winter.
Competition for places is extremely fierce at Stamford Bridge and there are a distinct lack of opportunities for those on the fringes.
A long run in the Capital One Cup often provides a platform for those in need of minutes on the pitch but the Blues’ defence of the trophy was over by October and that avenue has been blocked.
The Blues have an army of more than 30 players out on loan across the globe and not every temporary move works out in the way that the club and the player hopes for when deals are agreed.
January could give some of those young guns the chance to find an alternative home for the second half of the campaign or even a permanent move if there is no hope of making the grade with the champions.
That goes for members of the current first-team squad too, with a change of manager sometimes signalling a change in fortunes for certain players.
Let’s take a look at the Chelsea stars who could benefit from a change of scenery this month…
Radamel Falcao
Falcao was once the most lethal striker in world football. Where has that man gone now?
An anterior cruciate ligament injury, which required the Colombian to undergo knee surgery and ruled him out of the 2014 World Cup, appears to have wrecked the forward’s career.
He flopped on loan at Manchester United last season and El Tigre has looked tame when he has occasionally taken to the field in a Blues shirt so far this term.
Football super-agent Jorge Mendes, who also represents former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, was crucial to the negotiations which took the experienced forward to west London.
But with Mourinho since gone and Falcao still sidelined through injury, the Blues may consider sending the frontman back to Monaco as clubs from across the pond continue to be linked with a swoop.
Patrick Bamford
Bamford ended his loan stay at Crystal Palace in spectacular fashion at the turn of the year as he described his time at Selhurst Park as “terrible” in the wake of his final appearance for the club.
It has been in stark contrast to the productive spell he enjoyed at Middlesbrough last term as Bamford scooped the Championship Player of the Year award and banged in the goals on Teesside.
Competition from Connor Wickham, Fraizer Campbell, Marouane Chamakh and Dwight Gayle proved too strong for the young Englishman.
Chelsea fans would rather see Bamford pushing for a start in the blue shirt than Falcao but the more likely option is for the 22-year-old head out on another loan spell.
Christian Atsu
There was another failed Premier League loan for the Blues this season as Atsu’s time on the south coast was cut short by Bournemouth.
The Ghana international barely played for the Cherries, with his only football coming in the League Cup, before manager Eddie Howe confirmed he was heading back to Chelsea.
It follows a similarly disappointing stint in the English top-flight with Everton last term as he struggled for fitness and didn’t get much time on the field.
His next move is likely to be crucial given his failure to prove himself in British football so far. Several English and German outfits are rumoured to be interested in taking him.
Eden Hazard
Hazard was named PFA Player of the Year last season and was being touted as the man to succeed Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the undisputed king of world football when the pair hang up their boots.
Those days seem a long time ago now.
Hazard is still waiting for his first Chelsea goal of the season after 30 games, has twice substituted himself with injuries, continues to struggle for form and appeared to lose patience with Mourinho before he was given the boot.
The Mourinho issue was solved by Roman Abramovich’s decision to pull the trigger and fire the club’s most successful ever manager but the other issues remain. Perhaps working with Guus Hiddink can breathe new life into the Belgian?
There’s no doubting Hazard has the potential to be Chelsea’s best player for years to come, however recent events have called his desire into question in some quarters and the Blues could still rake in a huge fee if they decide to cash in.
New Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has previously expressed his admiration for Hazard. Los Galacticos wouldn’t hesitate to sign the forward.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Touted as the first Chelsea player to come through the club’s academy and break into the first-team since John Terry, Loftus-Cheek has a huge reputation.
Jose Mourinho promised him more chances this season but never fulfilled that vow as he stuck to his guns and was eventually sacked as the Blues went from champs to chumps.
Guus Hiddink seems set on playing the likes of John Obi Mikel and Loftus-Cheek would benefit from getting out on loan in the second half of the campaign.
Loic Remy
Remy is a player being chased by as many as five Premier League clubs this January and is struggling to command a place in the Blues squad.
Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Swansea City, Norwich City and Aston Villa are all chasing the Frenchman this winter and would provide him with the chance for more minutes on the pitch.
He has slipped down the pecking order at Chelsea and played in just eight games in the Premier League and scoring once.
Remy has also scored twice in the Capital One Cup when afforded a rare chance to shine as Diego Costa remains first-choice at the Bridge.
The in-demand forward, who has been trying to overcome a calf strain recently, was left out of the squad that faced beat Palace in a London derby this month.
Tomas Kalas
Kalas is another of Chelsea’s army of youngsters out on loan this term.
The Czech Republic international is on loan at Middlesbrough again this term but has fallen behind Emiliano Nsue in the pecking order on Teesside.
Kalas, who can play at right-back and centre-back, was a huge hit on Teesside in a four-month loan spell at the end of last term.
However, they say you should never go back and that has rung true for the Blues youngster at the Riverside as QPR boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has registered his interest in rescuing him.
A move back down to London could be just what he needs this January.
Bertrand Traore
Traore’s situation is much the same as Loftus-Cheek’s as the pair cut frustrated figures on the Chelsea bench every weekend.
The Burkina Faso international was promoted to the Blues first-team squad this season after solving some work permit problems following an excellent loan stint at feeder club Vitesse Arnhem.
Ajax boss Marc Overmars wants to take the 20-year-old back to Holland in a loan deal this January and more experience at a top Dutch club would clearly be of more benefit than time on the bench.
He banged in 17 goals in 48 appearances while at Vitesse last term and helped the club reach the Europa League as he developed his game by starting more games up front.
Traore deserves a chance at Chelsea but if Hiddink doesn’t see him slotting into his plans any time soon then allowing him to head to Ajax, or better still another Premier League club, is a good idea.
January transfer window
closes in
