Dutch giants want Chelsea youngster on loan deal — report

Brought back to Chelsea after an 18-month loan spell at Dutch club Vitesse, 20-year-old striker Bertrand Traoré hasn't had many opportunities to prove himself in actual match action — although it could all change today as all three of our main strikers could be ruled out. Nevertheless, the lack of minutes at Chelsea isn't doing Traoré any favours with regards to his development, and he might be on his way back to the Netherlands once again.

According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Ajax Amsterdam manager Frank de Boer sees the Burkina Faso international as someone who could help his team lock down first place in the Eredivisie, though it's not quite clear what major need Traoré would be filling at the league leaders. Ajax, who have scored the most goals while conceding the fewest, have a three-point lead over PSV at the winter break.

The newspaper also reports that Ajax might want to include a purchase option on the loan, although current Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink is reluctant in releasing the player altogether before doing a full assessment on his squad.

In any case, a permanent move to Ajax, provided Chelsea include a buy-back option on the deal and provided that he actually plays and doesn't just continue to stagnate on the bench, is perhaps not the worst outcome for Bertrand Traoré.  He needs minutes and he needs minutes now.