How are Chelsea’s Loanees Progressing this Season?

Each season, there tends to be ample transfer activity at Stamford Bridge with an inordinate number of players both arriving and departing West London. The high-profile incomings and outgoings tend to be well-documented, however, there are often a handful of stars who head for the exit door on a temporary basis. This season is no exception and we’ve taken a closer look at how some of the Blues’ young loanees are faring at their temporary homes. 

Ian Maatsen – Dortmund 

It’s still early days for Ian Maatsen at Borussia Dortmund having only made the switch in mid-January. Nevertheless, he’s already made a favourable impression on The Yellow Wall having claimed an eye-catching assist against struggling FC Koln. Maatsen dispossessed his opponent before displaying his electric pace to find Donyell Malen who calmly slotted home. Maatsen will remain in the Bundesliga until the end of the campaign although having recently signed a new contract with his parent club, he looks set for a big future with the Blues. Maatsen will be looking to play his way into Mauricio Pochettino’s plans next year and with Dortmund fans already purring over his early performances, he should return to Cobham with a renewed confidence in the summer. 

Lewis Hall – Newcastle United 

Newcastle have endured a crippling injury list this season and their fitness issues have been well-documented. Nevertheless, loanee Lewis Hall has failed to break into the XI so far. Hall looks set to remain on Tyneside with manager Eddie Howe seemingly intent on converting the 19-year old into a defensive-minded central midfielder. 

He’s made just eight Premier League appearances so far and has racked up just 45 minutes of Champions League football. He did find the net in the EFL Cup against Manchester United, although he was left on the bench as Howe’s men exited the competition following a penalty shootout defeat to his parent club. The Blues have subsequently progressed to the EFL Cup final where they will face Liverpool at the end of February. The West Londoners have been priced up as outsiders by the majority of betting sites in the UK, although with their opponents still competing across four different competitions coupled with the injury to their talisman Mo Salah, Pochettino will quietly fancy his chances of upsetting the odds at Wembley. 

Chelsea have numerous defensive players on the treatment table yet Pochettino appears happy to let the left-back remain in the north east for the time being. 

Angelo Gabriel – Strasbourg 

As part of the BlueCo Ownership, Strasbourg were always likely to borrow one or two Chelsea players this season. Angelo Gabriel was sent to the Grand Est region of France and has featured in 17 of the club’s 18 Ligue 1 fixtures. He has featured mainly on right wing, although he’s shown terrific versatility and has also been deployed on the left in recent weeks. 

Although he hasn’t found the net so far, he has provided three assists and has been a useful member of the Strasbourg squad. Nevertheless, he rarely completes 90 minutes and as a Portuguese and Spanish speaker, he has found the language barrier a little tricky at times. 

Having arrived late in the transfer window, Angelo’s lack of pre-season preparations have slightly hindered his progress, yet overall, this loan spell will be viewed as largely constructive by the Blues hierarchy. 

David Dotra Fofana – Union Berlin / Burnley 

Although at the time of writing, we haven’t seen Fofana in a Burnley shirt, the lively forward enjoyed a decent spell at Bundesliga strugglers Union Berlin. Fofana found the net once in Germany, although only one Union player, Kevin Behrens, had a higher xG during the first half of the campaign. The 21-year old is able to take possession and move the ball forward with only Sheraldo Becker, who has recently signed for Real Sociedad, having been responsible for more progressive carries than the loanee. 

As well as featuring in the German top flight, Fofana also enjoyed some handy Champions League experience and found the back of the net against Napoli during the group stage of the competition. 

He signed too late to feature in Burnley’s 1-1 draw against Luton and the Clarets will be hoping that his energy can give their struggling frontline a much-needed boost during the second half of the campaign. 

Gabriel Slonina – Eupen 

American goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina’s switch to the Belgian Jupiler League is likely to have gone under the radar, however, the Illinois-born stopper has been one of the busiest players in the division. 

 Eupen are struggling and have kept just two clean sheets. However, Slonina’s latest shutout came against RWDM in mid-January. He’s made 88 saves this season, with only Westerlo’s Turkish goalkeeper Sinan Bolat having produced more stops so far. With such a porous defence in front of him, it’s difficult to make a firm judgment on Slonina, however, Blues fans can rest assured that they look to have a decent shot-stopper on their hands.