Last week, the prospect of West Ham United tempting one of Chelsea’s ‘forgotten’ internationals to London Stadium was remote: This week it is considered highly likely.
Loan deals to bolster the midfield are already widely reported. Now the defensive set-up is set for reorganisation as Graham Potter is reportedly pushing for another Stamford Bridge outcast. Obviously these stories that we’re covering today, however great-sounding can’t all be true – Premier League rules only allow 2 domestic loan players per squad.
As an upgrade on the Hammers’ defence, and far more in keeping with Potters’ preference of three centre backs with wing-backs, Ben Chilwell on an 18-month loan would seem a very positive step forward: Emerson Palmieri’s form has been very hit and miss this season and he’s been linked with a sale to Italian club Juventus.
These ‘assisted salary’ loans make a lot of sense for West Ham to upgrade the squad without falling foul of PSR just now. With Chelsea meeting most of the player’s salary, it would be a feasible upgrade. There is not much cash for permanent transfers so as footballtransfers.com state:“[Potter] is set to use his connections at Chelsea, the club he departed little over 18 months ago, to land Chilwell on a loan deal: The 28-year-old England left-back has been totally frozen out following the arrival of Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge, not even making the club’s Premier League squad”.
It would also allow West Ham to move Vlad Coufal on linked as he has been with moves away to Turkish sides.
Aaron Wan Bissaka on the right, Chilwell on the left: Pretty decent with no multi-million outlay. Chilwell himself is desperate for game time as he’s nowhere near the Chelsea match day squad now.
Ollie Scarles as back up to Cresswell in the defence department would then give West Ham a significant squad upgrade on the present line up. Again, plausible thanks to Potter’s credibility as a coach and Chelsea’s flexibility on subsidising Chilwell’s salary.
No doubt the bosses at Stamford Bridge hope these loan deals for their fringe players will put them back in the shop window for sale in the summer.
Chilwell had it. Way past his best. Injury upon injury.
Chilwell is or was a very good player. Seemed to get injured a lot or am I making that up?
During the Summer window the Chelsea squad was enormous, far too many players to include in their squad. I didn’t keep up with their outgoings at the end of the window. It may well be that Chelsea have players that they’ll be keen to loan and of course Potter will know many of the Chelsea players.
We have Todibo and Soler in on loan but I don’t think that we have any domestic loans so can take two.
I’d Def take chilwell
He’s another injury prone player and the wrong end of his career. I just hope Mark Noble knocks Potter’s and Steidten’s together and puts the emphasis on developing young talented academy player’s but also recruiting good young player’s from other club’s. They are out there but we have to get away more over age player’s we’ve more than enough already, we need to get the overall age of the squad much lower we need their stamina, athleticism and energy into the midfield. Hoping for a much improved performance tonight.