Chelsea Loan Round-up: April 18 - May 9

ENGLAND:

Kurt Zouma was involved in every minute of football as Everton embarrassed Manchester United 4-0, had a goalless draw with Crystal Palace and then beat Burnley 2-0 at Goodison Park. Everton are on course to finish the season with a strong defensive record, conceding a highly impressive two goals in their last six games. Zouma has been a huge part of their efforts and manager and players alike, Everton have made no secret of their desire to keep him permanently. Chelsea should expect an offer or three in the summer!

Kenedy played 57 minutes in Newcastle’s 1-1 draw against Brighton, replacing Ayoze Perez in the 33rd minute. He last started a game on the 26th of January, in the FA Cup, and had made only two appearances exceeding 15 minutes since.

Michy Batshuayi was recalled to the starting XI after three games on the fringes and scored his third goal for Crystal Palace at Cardiff.

Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori were vital for Derby County, who picked up 14 points of a possible 18 to end their season with a successful push for the final promotion play-off place. Tomori hobbled off injured with a dead leg against Bristol City (and was replaced by an impressive George Evans, playing out of position) but returned for the final two fixtures after intensive treatment. Mount didn’t score or assist any goals in this period but by no means should that undermine his contributions, both on and off the ball. Derby now face Leeds United in the play-off semi-final, with Marcelo Bielsa’s side visiting Pride Park on Saturday first.

Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Jay Dasilva was rotated out against a highly-physical Millwall side but started Bristol City’s other three games, Tomas Kalas played every minute as usual and Kasey Palmer was handed a start in a final-day draw against Hull City. Speaking in his last post-match presser of the season, the Robins’ manager, Lee Johnson expressed his desire to continue working with all three loan players going forward. This is a very much feasible scenario, with an exit clause already present in Dasilva’s loan deal and the duo of Palmer and Kalas rumored to be on the market this summer.

Todd Kane scored two (!) goals in an ultimately losing effort against West Bromwich Albion, then started in a 0-3 loss to Sheffield Wednesday and did not feature henceforth.

Trevoh Chalobah’s minutes began to wane at the start of April, with Paul Lambert presumably casting an eye towards Ipswich’s future in League One but the young midfielder played 251 minutes across their last three matches to end the season. He also played a role in Ipswich’s Ajax-esque goal against Leeds United, a brilliant move finished off by the promising Andre Dozzell.

This piece by Andy Warren talks about Chalobah’s season in detail and is an excellent read that provides perspective from those who’ve watched him all season.

Reece James’ last few weeks have been well documented; he not only won a host of awards including Players’ and Supporters’ Player of the Year, but also led Wigan out on the final day, playing at right-back after a lengthy run in central midfield. Wigan ended up winning 1-0 thanks to a 15th-minute strike from Joe Garner and Reece James was substituted off in the 90th minute, giving the fans a chance to pay homage to his outstanding contributions with a rapturous standing ovation.

Michael Hector, Sheffield Wednesday’s newly-crowned Player of the Year was given a chance to end the season with a goal to his name, as he scored from the penalty spot in the 84th minute and did what attacker Fernando Forestieri failed to do in the 56th minute of the same game.

Rumors have begun to emerge regarding Wednesday launching a big in the region of £3 million to sign the centre-back permanently. However, given Chelsea’s history with selling even their fringe players, they’re likely to try and drive that price up by a few million.

Tammy Abraham hasn’t featured for Aston Villa since scoring against Bolton Wanderers on the 19th of April but will be back for their play-off clash against West Brom.

...25 and counting, that is.

Lewis Baker and Matt Miazga played the maximum possible minutes for Reading, who had a win-less four matches (3D, 1L) to end their campaign, conceding three goals in the same span. Manager Jose Gomes achieved what he set out to do upon his appointment in January, which was to retain Reading’s status as a Championship club. He’s done so whilst beginning to imprint his possession-heavy brand of football on the team and also heavily involved youngsters from the academy set-up. Loan players have been crucial to Reading’s survival as well, and it appeared that they were likely to come back for either Miazga or Baker in the summer, if not both, but that looks like a distant possibility in lieu of recent reports.

Dujon Sterling remained ever-present for 8th-placed Coventry City, and will no doubt have several Championship (or higher) clubs looking to sign him in the summer.

Jacob Maddox started his last two matches for Cheltenham Town and was also named their Young Player of the Year.

Bradley Collins missed 3 of Burton’s last 4 games of the season due to injury but returned to fitness in time for a farewell appearance, which was unfortunately a 3-1 loss to Peterborough United. Collins is out of contract this summer and still only 22, he may well be in line for an extension at Chelsea but Burton manager, Nigel Clough stated in no uncertain terms that the Brewers were in discussions of re-signing him permanently.

“We are still discussing with him and his agent,”

“He has got a dilemma, Brad has, because I would think his form in the last two seasons will have attracted clubs from higher, but I’m not sure whether that would be to play every week.

”So he can get more money to go and not be guaranteed a place, maybe sit on the bench for a season.

”Some would view that as a backwards step, and we would. He’s had a great season in League Two with Forest Green Rovers, he’s now stepped up a League with us and done very well with us.

”We think he has got to keep playing, but money talks sometimes and I think that’s the decision he’s got to make now.

“He’s a young goalkeeper, he’s on a good deal at Chelsea. It would mean him taking a financial reduction in wages to keep playing and almost back himself to say, ‘if I drop down, then in a year’s time or something, if I have another good season, I’ll be back up’.

”It’s a bit like when we had Will Hughes at Derby County. He has got to get this year or two right. He’s got the last couple of seasons right, playing in League Two, playing in League One, he’s got to get the next year or so right and then his career will flourish.

”He’s only 21, 22 as a goalkeeper, he’s got another 15 years ahead of him.”

- Nigel Clough; source: Derby Telegraph

Nathan Baxter was not involved relegated Yeovil’s last match but had a double haul of the club’s Young Player of the Year and Player of the Year awards.

Josh Grant’s loan spell was unfortunately scuppered by injuries, his last involvement for Yeovil came at the end of March. As goes for Izzy Brown at Leeds who makes the bench now and then but still hasn’t added to his one substitute appearance.

Jack Wakely and Ethan Wady continued their runs as regulars for Basingstoke Town and Tooting & Mitcham United respectively, and ended the same way.

ITALY:

Tiemoue Bakayoko started Milan’s three matches prior to their 2-1 win over Bologna, where he was shrouded in controversy after a heated exchange with manager Genaro Gattuso. You can read all about it here.

Mario Pasalic has found the back of the net twice in his last four appearances, in wins for Atalanta over Napoli and Udinese. Atalanta look set to beat AC Milan to 4th place and are keen on signing Pasalic on a long-term basis, although the reported price in his loan deal is €15m, which they may not be able to shell out.

Ola Aina played 90 minutes in Torino’s 0-1 win over Genoa and made two substitute appearances henceforth, one of them coming in the Turin derby which ended 1-1.

Lucas Piazon hasn’t featured for Chievo Verona lately.

FRANCE:

Victorien Angban started two of Metz’s last four, during which time they sealed promotion to Ligue 1 and in doing so, activated a clause in his loan deal to make the signing permanent.

Baba Rahman had a match to forget as Reims lost 0-3 to Nimes, his wayward back-pass was intercepted by Renaud Ripart, who was one-on-one with the goalkeeper and proceeded to finish the job. Baba was then subbed off in the 65th minute.

THE NETHERLANDS:

Fankaty Dabo started in Sparta Rotterdam’s 2-0 loss to Jong PSV and 3-1 win against Helmond Sport, before a 19-minute cameo against Jong Ajax.

Vitesse Arnhem beat PEC Zwolle comprehensively (4-1) despite having Alex Buttner sent off in the 27th minute but were then beat 4-2 by Ajax. As in most season, they look on course to finish between 5th and 8th place, after which they’ll partake in the Europa League Qualification play-offs. Jake Clarke-Salter started both of the aforementioned games, in contrast to Eduardo who is still second choice to Remko Pasveer.

SPAIN:

Kenneth Omeruo started Leganes’ last four matches, which included a 0-3 win against Sevilla and also saw them securing their La Liga status for next season.

Alvaro Morata scored Atletico Madrid’s opening goal in a 3-2 win against Valencia.

Josimar Quintero started just one match for Lleida Esportiu.

BELGIUM:

Kylian Hazard’s season may have been put to a premature end but Cercle Brugge have signed him permanently, so he will continue in the Belgian Pro League A next season.

BRAZIL:

Nathan’s first-half goal against Ceara earned him a start in Atletico Mineiro’s next game, against Zamora, where he played 70 minutes.

SERBIA:

Danilo Pantic scored his fifth goal of the season in a 2-1 win for Partizan Beograd, against Napredak.

GERMANY:

Christian Pulisic returned from injury with a couple of substitute appearances against Freiburg and Schalke, before starting against Werder Bremen and scoring a superb solo goal.

NORTHERN IRELAND:

Jared Thompson made three starts for Warrenpoint Town, although none amounted to clean sheets.

TURKEY:

Victor Moses returned from a thigh injury in Fenerbahce’s 1-3 win over Kasimpasa, replacing Eljif Elmas in the 61st minute.

Note: This will be the last regular-season loan round-up of 2018/19. Look out for an end-of-season loan review in the coming weeks!