Chelsea’s new tact to deal with FIFA’s ban

The Blues are keen to reduce the number of loan players on their books this summer, though are keen to continue with their policy of recent years as Chelsea full-back Ola Aina is set to complete an £8.7 million ($11.5m) move to Torino after an impressive loan spell with the Serie A outfit. The Blues are acting to counter further measures from FIFA after they were slapped with a transfer ban last week.

Aina – who spent last season on loan at Hull City – is likely to be the first of many of Chelsea’s infamous loan army to leave the club this summer as the Blues aim to trim their squad of fringe players. The likes of Tiemoue Bakayoko, Kenneth Omeruo, Victorien Angban, Mario Pasalic, Jay Dasilva, Tomas Kalas and Danilo Pantic are all being lined up for departures from Stamford Bridge.

After a shaky start, Bakayoko has become a regular starter at AC Milan, and though the Rossoneri are keen to keep the France international, his future is likely to hinge on whether Champions League qualification can be secured at San Siro. It is understood, however, that Milan could look to negotiate the previously agreed £30m ($39.7m) fee to sign Bakayoko on a permanent basis.

Omeruo, meanwhile, has impressed for Leganes in La Liga, and the Spanish side are keen to keep hold of the Nigeria international. They may, however, struggle to raise the funds for the £4.2m ($5.6m) option on his current loan deal. Elsewhere Pasalic would cost Atalanta £13.25m ($17.5m) while Pantic is believed to be available for £2.6m ($3.4m) should Partizan try to sign him.

Dasilva and Kalas have shown good form for Bristol City, and the Championship club are in talks over deals for the pair, as well as Kasey Palmer after he joined them at Ashton Gate in January. Lucas Piazon, Todd Kane and Bradley Collins, who are currently plying their trades at Chievo, Hull City and Burton Albion respectively, are all out of contract this summer and may well also be let go to pastures new.

Chelsea are looking to cut the number of players they have out on loan, with FIFA proposals set to force them to alter their strategy of recent years. The world governing body has plans in place to limit the number of professionals allowed to leave on loan from each club to between six and eight from the 2020-21 season, though there will be exemptions granted to homegrown under-21 players when loaned out domestically.

Former Blues midfielder Eddie Newton currently oversees Chelsea’s raft of loanees, which currently numbers 41 players, with assistance provided by fellow ex-Stamford Bridge heroes Tore Andre Flo, Paulo Ferreira and Joe Cole.