The summer transfer window is set to see several Chelsea squad members leave the club and embark on new chapters in their careers. The Blues are expected to spend big to try and replace the outgoing players, but they can also save money in some key areas.
Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, as of the time of writing, are the only confirmed departures. However, a host of other players could follow them out of the door.
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cesar Azpilicueta, Marcos Alonso, Ross Barkley, Jorginho, N'Golo Kante, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku have all been linked with moves away from Chelsea. It's, of course, unlikely that the club would sanction moves for all ten of these players, but even if a large chunk of them leave, some major surgery needs to be done.
READ MORE: Todd Boehly looking to end Chelsea's long-term transfer mission to seal Jules Kounde deal
The departures point towards Chelsea spending big in the summer transfer window. That could indeed happen, but they're also options for Thomas Tuchel within the club to save millions on alternatives.
football.london has picked out some of Chelsea's most exciting loan players, who all enjoyed strong seasons over 2021/22. Let us know if you agree with our verdict down in the comment section below.
Levi Colwill
Colwill has had an outstanding season on loan at Huddersfield Town. The 19-year-old defender played 29 times for the Terriers in the Championship, and is likely to feature in the play-off final against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.
With Chelsea losing both Rudiger and Christensen, there is more than a case for Tuchel to recall Colwill for next season. See how he gets on in pre-season and potentially implement the teenager into a back-three next term.
football.london understands that there is significant interest from numerous Premier League clubs in Colwill ahead of the summer transfer window. Chelsea cannot afford to do what they have done with the likes of Fikayo Tomori and Marc Guehi. Bring Colwill back.
Ian Maatsen
Maatsen spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Championship outfit Coventry City. The young Dutchman played 39 times in the second-tier, scoring three goals and assisting the one.
The 20-year-old left-back had an impressive campaign. He could come back to Chelsea to provide back-up to Ben Chilwell next season. Alonso looks set to leave the club, and the future of Emerson Palmieri remains unclear at this time.
Conor Gallagher
Perhaps the most exciting Chelsea loanee there was in the 2021/22 season. Gallagher scored eight goals and assisted three times in the Premier League while on loan at Crystal Palace.
The Eagles have made no secret of their desire to try and bring the 22-year-old midfielder back to Selhurst Park next term, but Chelsea may have different plans. With Barkley set to leave, while Kante and Jorginho face uncertain futures, Gallagher could be arriving back at Cobham at an ideal time.
The England international showcased his goal-scoring ability during his time down in south London - something that Tuchel's team have missed. There's bound to be plenty of interest from elsewhere in Gallagher over the next few months, but Chelsea should be doing everything in their power to keep hold of the midfielder.
Billy Gilmour
The Scotland international spent the 2021/22 season in a poor Norwich City side that were eventually relegated. When Gilmour first burst onto the scene at Chelsea back in 2019, huge things were expected of the young midfielder.
Chelsea still rates the Scot very highly, but next season might come a bit too soon for him. Another loan spell to a Premier League club might seem like the best option for Gilmour as he looks to get even more first-team experience in the top flight.
Armando Broja
Broja enjoyed a great season on loan at Southampton and proved his credentials in the Premier League. The Albanian scored six times in the top-flight for the Saints and really caught the eye with some of his performances on the biggest stage.
GOAL reported recently that Broja was wanted by a host of clubs, including AC Milan, Inter Milan, Napoli, Newcastle United, West Ham United and Southampton. Tuchel faces a big decision when it comes to the 20-year-old striker, but surely there is no harm in giving him a run-out in the first team.
Tuchel's view
Tuchel was asked earlier in the month about the return of Chelsea's loan stars in the coming weeks. The Blues head coach said: "The loanees have to come back anyway! We are very selfish in that, that's our right.
"They come back for a point. We have pre-season with them for them to show they can play the role we wish for. They are our players. Whoever takes the place needs to do anything to keep the place.
"The race is on from the first day in pre-season. In general, the teams we look at - the top two teams - of course, they bring quality also from the outside. We need to be very good in recruiting, very good in scouting, very good in decision making - all of us - to sign the players who are the best fit, bring the mentality, mindset, positional profile that you need to improve the squad. It is on a very high level."
