Chelsea could recall one of their loan players who is struggling at Strasbourg in the January transfer window, according to reports.
Several players who are struggling for minutes may depart Chelsea in the next month but after spending over £250million last summer, there are not expected to be many, if any incomings.
One young star could be on his way back to Stamford Bridge however, given he is not developing as planned at Strasbourg, the French club also owned by Todd Boehly’s BlueCo group.
The Blues sent Mike Penders, Mamadou Sarr and Kendry Paez on loan to the Ligue 1 side for the season, as well as selling them Ben Chilwell.
But while the goalkeeper and centre-back have become key players under Liam Rosenior, attacking midfielder Paez has not kicked on as well.
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Chelsea agreed to sign the teenager for an initial £17m back in 2023, with Lionel Messi recently naming him as one of the 10 brightest talents in football.
Already a full international for Ecuador, Paez has shown flashes of his potential, but only seven of his 19 appearances across all competitions have come from the start, and he’s only come close to completing 90 minutes once.
The 18-year-old only has one goal and no assists to his name and L’Equipe report that Strasbourg had concerns about the player prior to his arrival.
Moreover, the report adds that there are question marks over his ‘lifestyle’ off the pitch and it is suggested that he may not see out the season in France.
Chelsea could of course recall Paez and long him elsewhere and this may even be considered as it would help them facilitate another transfer in January.
It was recently reported that Roma want to loan in bomb-squad star Axel Disasi but the Blues already have six players on loan at foreign clubs, including Paez, and are not permitted anymore.
Recalling Paez would enable a temporary transfer abroad for Disasi but would also limit the Ecuadorian to a domestic loan or staying at Chelsea for the rest of the season.
It is not known what Chelsea’s stance on the matter is, but following Strasbourg’s last league match, a goalless draw with Lorient, Rosenior was less than impressed with the younger members of his team, Paez included.
‘There are no more excuses now that they’re getting playing time. We expect more, clearly. I’m fed up with using the excuse of the players’ youth,’ the English manager said.
‘If the players don’t follow instructions, no problem, we’ll find others who do. At some point, we have to be more demanding about performance.
‘There were several situations that should have given us great opportunities if everyone had followed the positioning instructions. It’s unacceptable and it has to change for the second half of the season.
‘I want players who do what they’re asked to do on the field.’
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