CHELSEA will have an additional pool of talent to call upon worth over £200million from next season – despite not being allowed to sign anyone.
Fifa have banned the Blues from making any fresh additions for the next two transfer windows after breaching rules regarding recruiting minors – although they have announced they will appeal.
Regardless of the identity of the manager at Stamford Bridge – Frank Lampard and Zinedine Zidane have been linked with replacing Maurizio Sarri – they will be unable to improve their squad with new recruits.
However, they could yet tap into the droves of players who will return to West London after loan spells this season.
Of the 42 players currently on temporary spells elsewhere, 32 will return to the club in the summer.
And with new transfers barred, who could Chelsea look to to make up the shortfall? SunSport looks at the runners and riders.
Goalkeepers
Nathan Baxter and Karlo Ziger are the only stoppers currently on loan from Chelsea who will return at the end of the season.
While Baxter is a regular at League Two Yeovil, Ziger is with National League play-off hopefuls Sutton United.
Kepa Arrizabalaga’s world record arrival last summer does at least ensure the club are covered in that position.
Willy Caballero is regarded as the No.2.
Defenders
Kurt Zouma is the headline centre-back who could be available to Sarri again, though Everton want a permanent deal for the Frenchman.
Ola Aina won’t return however having agreed a deal to sign for Torino after his loan spell.
Fikayo Tomori has impressed for Lampard’s derby while teenager Reece James is a hot prospect at Wigan Athletic.
Gary Cahill’s expected exit should open the door for a berth in the first team.
Kenneth Omeruo will also be back in contention for his first Chelsea appearance since joining in 2012.
Midfielders
Mason Mount’s displays for Derby won him an England call-up last year and fans will be eager to see him in the Premier League next season.
And could the transfer ban lead to the second coming of Charly Musonda, of whom big things were expected?
With Cesc Fabregas having left in January, Chelsea followers will be fearing that Tiemoue Bakayoko’s move to AC Milan might not become permanent.
Lewis Baker is still waiting for his debut after being sent out on his sixth loan spell at Reading.
Forwards
Amid uncertainty over Gonzalo Higuain and Olivier Giroud’s future, Chelsea will have an all-star cast in attack to call on if they are left short.
Michy Batshuayi will return from Crystal Palace while Tammy Abraham has been at Aston Villa this season.
But Alvaro Morata has an agreement in place to complete a permanent move to Atletico Madrid.
England international Abraham is perhaps the best bet having netted 20 goals in the Championship.
Christian Pulisic will formally join after being loaned back to Borussia Dortmund – but has major competition in wide areas.
How much are Chelsea’s loan stars are worth?
Christian Pulisic – £45m
Tiemoue Bakayoko – £27m
Michy Batshuayi – £27m
Kurt Zouma – £18m
Victor Moses – £16.2m
Tammy Abraham – £9m
Kenedy – £9m
Mario Pasalic – £6.3m
Lewis Baker – £4.9m
Tomas Kalas – £4.5m
Charly Musonda – £4.5m
Baba Rahman – £4.5m
Izzy Brown – £4.5m
Mason Mount £3.6m
Michael Hector – £2.7m
Matt Miazga – £2.7m
Kenneth Omeruo – £2.7m
Danilo Pantic – £2.48m
Fikayo Tomori – £2.25m
Jake Clarke-Salter – £1.8m
Kasey Palmer – £1.35m
Victorien Angban – £1.13m
Trevoh Chalobah – £900k
Nathan – £810k
Kylian Hazard – £630k
Jay Dasilva – £450k
Reece James – £675k
Nathan Baxter -N/A
Dujon Sterling – N/A
Jacob Maddox – N/A
Karlo Ziger – N/A
Jack Wakely – N/A
Source: Transfermarkt.com
