Chelsea want to swap on-loan defenders at Borussia Mönchengladbach — report

As one commenter put it, this is certainly a creative one from German tabloid-ish newspaper Bild regarding Chelsea loanee Andreas Christensen, Chelsea loanee Nathan Ake, and a certain Borussia Mönchengladbach who are fighting for another go-around in the Champions League next season.

Christensen and Ake have been two of our brightest stars in this season's Loan Army, the former starring as a center back for both club and country, both in the Bundesliga and in the Champions League, the latter nailing down a Premier League starting spot as a left back at Watford.  But Ake has played plenty of center back before, and defensive midfield, too (his versatility is one of his greatest assets, in fact).

While both could conceivably challenge for a spot in the Chelsea squad next season, it is the younger of the two, 19-year-old Andreas who seems to be on the fastest track, gathering plaudits after plaudits, after seemingly every performance.  His loan to Gladbach was meant to be for two years, but this isn't the first time we're hearing of Chelsea considering cutting that short at the halfway point.  And if Bild are to be believed, we could possibly compensate Gladbach for activating the recall clause early by sending Ake their way.

Report says Chelsea will offer Nathan Aké to Gladbach as part of an agreement to bring Christensen back. https://t.co/RmQBVeIdls

— Chelsea Youth (@chelseayouth) March 30, 2016

I doubt Gladbach would be too keen on this arrangement, especially considering the great season Christensen's having and their own designs of trying to sign him on a permanent basis.  And I presume some part of this will also hinge on the new Chelsea manager's ideas and plans.  But this is probably not the last time we'll be hearing of some variation on the Christensen-recall theme.