After being largely overlooked thus far in pre-season by Antonio Conte, who has shown more faith in youngster Ola Aina, Baba Rahman looks to be joining Schalke 04 on loan for the coming season.
It was reported by Sky Germany before Saturday's Real Madrid vs. Chelsea friendly in Michigan, that after failing to impress his new manager, Baba was already on his way to Gelsenkirchen, to reunite with his former manager at Augsburg, Markus Weinzierl, who took over Schalke 04 at the start of June.
#Schalke - #S04 wird #Baba vom FC Chelsea ausleihen. Alles dazu auf #SSNHD
— Dirk g. Schlarmann (@Sky_Dirk) July 30, 2016
Contrasting reports had emerged with respect to Baba's involvement in today's match-day squad, but it seems certain that the left-back will complete his move to Schalke very soon — regardless of whether he's flying and completing his medical today, tomorrow, or yesterday.
No Baba Rahman in Chelsea squad to face Real Madrid ➡️ medical set for tomorrow at Schalke ahead of loan move, according to German outlets.
— Matt Lewis (@mattlewis27) July 30, 2016
Turning in, at best, inconsistent performances for Chelsea last season, Baba has now been overlooked by three different managers, with even the likes of Kenedy preferred at left-back on certain occasions by both Mourinho and Hiddink. After being heralded as one of the Bundesliga's best left-backs following his breakout season with Augsburg in 2014-15, it boggles the mind that Baba has been deemed less than satisfactory time and time again in the Premier League.
At Schalke, he'll face competition from Sead Kolasinac and Dennis Aogo for the starting left-back spot, but with another season of regular football in a familiar and high-quality league, perhaps Baba will regain some of his long-lost confidence and return to actively compete for a starting spot at Chelsea next summer.