Chelsea are set to recall youngster Harvey Vale from a Hull City loan spell as the club fields interest in the permanent sale of Xavier Simons.
Vale, 19, started Hull’s 2-0 defeat to Fulham in the FA Cup third round but only got a total of 137 minutes during his six months on loan in the Championship. He will now return to Cobham and spend the remainder of the season with Chelsea’s Under-21s.
Having played in the Checkatrade Trophy for the U21s earlier this season, the youngster is deemed of having played senior matches for two different clubs this season so is unable to head back out on loan at a new club until next term.
He will return to Chelsea’s squad after being unable to pursue alternative loans with Championship clubs having tried to sign him in January.
Hull also risk losing fellow Blues loanee Simons, who manager Liam Rosenior has handed just 80 minutes to so far this season and is interested in signing on a permanent deal.
Rosenior is promising more minutes to Simons, who is not short of options as he seeks talks with Chelsea academy chiefs Neil Bath and Jim Fraser.
The 19-year-old old is weighing up whether to continue the loan spell, join Hull permanently or embark on a temporary move elsewhere, with Charlton Athletic, Oxford United, Leyton Orient and Salford City all offering increased minutes until the end of the season.
Hull’s third Chelsea loanee is talented goalkeeper Nathan Baxter, who has been ruled out for 10 weeks after undergoing surgery on an injured ankle.
Baxter is back at Cobham doing his rehabilitation and hopes to play a part in the final weeks of the Championship season.
