Next Matić? Chelsea could potentially re-sign former Young Player of the Year after selling him — report

This one's certainly one of the more out-of-the-blue transfer rumors we've heard in some time, but according to the Evening Standard, "Chelsea are monitoring the career of Josh McEachran closely in view of potentially re-signing him".  A highly unexpected turn of events, should that come to pass, considering that Josh specifically spoke of looking for some stability in his professional life when he signed with fellow West Londoners Brentford after a never-ending series of loans with Chelsea.

Unfortunately for our 2011 Young Player of the Year, his first season in TW8 hasn't exactly gone to plan.  Just two weeks after signing, he broke his foot in a training ground collision, ruling him out until mid-December.  A few months after that, he re-injured the same foot, ruling him out for the rest of the season.  Eleven starts and fifteen appearances is most certainly not what he was envisioning when he signed his four-year deal with the Bees.

Regardless of these difficulties, it's hard to see why Brentford would want to sell (unless there is indeed a buy-back clause of sorts, though that tacked-on speculation in the Evening Standard's story was "not confirmed" by Chelsea), why Chelsea would want to buy (nostalgia and other residual emotions aside), and why McEachran would even agree to it all (why go back in the basket?).  There is of course precedent set with Nemanja Matić's career path, but McEachran has yet to fit anywhere near the heights Matić did while at Benfica that made Chelsea reconsider our previous transfer decisions.

In any case, get well soon, Joshie, and good luck with next season's promotion campaign.