Enzo Maresca will be keeping a keen eye on Chelsea’s loaned-out contingent (Image: Getty)
Successive seasons of turmoil have seemingly come to an end since ‘s appointment at Stamford Bridge.
The former head coach has implemented a new style of play and inspired dramatic improvements in players like , Noni Madueke and . Club co-owner will be over the moon that the Blues’ trigger-happy transfer policy has finally been taken out of the firing line.
Although it took a while for ‘s mega recruitment drive to start paying off, the squad now appears to be in a healthy position. And more benefits could be on the horizon, with their fleet of loaned-out players flying under the radar.
Maresca has so much talent at his fingertips – enough to field two completely different line-ups in the and cup competitions – that the hoard of stars playing elsewhere while on the books at Stamford Bridge is often forgotten.
The likes of Trevoh Chalobah and Raheem Sterling may not have much of a future with the Blues after being cast aside in the summer, but others were shipped out with a view to gaining valuable experience and returning in better shape to try and fight their way into the senior setup.
places the total value of the 15 players out on loan from at an eye-watering £143million. And all of them can be called upon by Maresca at the end of the season, so long as he thinks they are good enough.
Andrey Santos is enjoying a fantastic season at Strasbourg (Image: Getty)
One of the crown jewels of ‘s up-and-coming stable of talent, Andrey Santos, had a torrid time on loan at Nottingham Forest last year. But things could hardly be going better for the 20-year-old midfielder at Strasbourg, where he has scored six times in 14 Ligue 1 games so far this campaign.
Djordje Petrovic is also getting regular game time at French sister club Strasbourg, though he may find it tough gaining the No. 1 jersey with fellow goalkeepers Mike Penders and Gabriel Slonina impressing at Genk and Barnsley respectively.
Teenage defender Aaron Anselmino, currently with Boca Juniors, is tipped for a bright future. Meanwhile Lesley Ugochukwu is having a tough season at Southampton, but the 20-year-old has plenty of time to turn his situation around.
With others like Armando Broja, David Datro Fofana and Alfie Gilchrist also possessing bags of ability, Maresca will be spoilt for choice when he decides who to welcome into the fold in 2025/26.