FANS were left stunned last week as Chelsea announced the shock news of Ross Barkley’s loan to Aston Villa.
And when Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s loan move to Fulham was confirmed yesterday, the England international became one of 25 players this season to be farmed out temporarily by the Blues.
Chelsea have £120m worth of players out on loan
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has moved to Fulham on loanCredit: Rex Features
Ross Barkley started his loan spell at Villa with a goalCredit: Getty Images – Getty
In being temporarily discarded by Chelsea, the midfield pair find themselves in pretty decent company.
The Blues shipping out plenty of players on loan is nothing new, with ‘loan army’ jibes from supporters of other clubs having been going around for years.
And this summer has been no different with Barkley, 26, and Loftus-Cheek, 24, waving goodbye to Stamford Bridge for the season.
So let’s wade through the up and coming stars and forgotten journeymen on Chelsea’s books that will ply their trade elsewhere this term.
GOALKEEPERS
Astonishingly Jamal Blackman, 26, finds himself out on loan for the EIGHTH time.
Without a first-team appearance for Chelsea, despite featuring on the Blues’ bench 18 times, Blackman will represent Rotherham United in the Championship this year.
Jamie Cumming, 21, has it all ahead of him – embarking on his first loan spell at League Two Stevenage, recently keeping his first senior clean sheet against Oldham Athletic.
At just 17, Teddy Sharman-Lowe has gone to Burton Albion as back up to Ben Garratt – although has played both the Brewers’ cup games far this season.
Ethan Wady rounds off the quartet of keepers, representing non-league Dartford.
Jamal Blackman is currently at Rotherham UnitedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Teddy Sharman-Lowe featured for Burton Albion against Aston-VillaCredit: Reuters
DEFENDERS
Forgotten man Davide Zappacosta headlines the list of defenders sent packing on loan this year, with the 28-year-old Italian international following up his stint at Roma last season with a campaign at Genoa.
Closer to home, Marc Guehi remains at Swansea City, having joined in January after making his senior debut in the League Cup last season.
And Trevoh Chalobah, younger brother of England international Nathaniel, is playing in Ligue 1 for newly promoted Lorient – after previous stints at Ipswich Town and Huddersfield.
American Matt Miazga is also with Belgian side Anderlecht.
Marc Guehi has impressed at SwanseaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Trevoh Chalobah is getting a taste of top-flight football with LorientCredit: Icon Sport – Getty
MIDFIELDERS
Ethan Ampadu, who has played in midfield and defence already in his young career, will hope to see more action this year at Sheffield United than he managed at Champions League semi-finalists RB Leipzig last season.
Like Blackman, 25-year-old Lewis Baker is now on his eighth loan spell, having long lost his tag as Chelsea’s brightest young talent.
After numerous EFL loans and the obligatory season at Vitesse, Baker will now try his hand at life in Turkey with Trabzonspor.
Having impressed enormously in the Championship for Charlton and then Swansea last term, exciting midfielder Conor Gallagher gets his chance in the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion this time around.
Luke McCormick, 21, follows up last season’s Shrewsbury sojourn with a spell at Bristol Rovers – while Tariq Uwakwe also tries out life in League One with Accrington Stanley.
Another Vitesse alumni Danilo Pantic, 23, will spend the year at Cukaricki in his native Serbia on what is his fifth loan spell – while Barkley annd Loftus-Cheek will hope to find their mojo at Villa and Fulham.
Tiemoue Bakayoko also confirmed his switch to Napoli earlier today.
And Jon Russell has headed to north-west outfit Accrington Stanley.
Ethan Ampadu is getting a taste of life in the Premier League ast Sheffield UnitedCredit: Reuters
Lewis Baker (right) is battling away in TurkeyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
FORWARDS
Michy Batshuayi has again been sent packing to Crystal Palace, after completely failing to impress Frank Lampard last season.
Versatile wide man Kenedy, who has even played as a left-back before, actually appeared 20 times for Chelsea in the 2015-16 season.
With just seven Blues outings since, however, the Brazilian has spent much of the following four years out on loan – and is currently plying his trade at Granada in LaLiga.
Armando Broja, 19, made his senior Chelsea debut in March against Everton – but has been brought back down to earth by becoming the latest Vitesse cast-off.
Meanwhile Charlie Brown, 20, (not the cartoon) is testing himself at Union SG in Belgium while 23-year-old Izzy Brown, no relation, is at Sheffield Wednesday on his seventh loan spell away from Stamford Bridge.
Like the younger Brown, Ike Ugbo, 22, finds himself in Belgium, and has scored two goals in five games so far for Cercle Brugge.
While Lucas Piazon has headed to Portuguese outfit Rio Ave.
Michy Batshuayi is hoping to re-find his goalscoring touchCredit: Reuters
Izzy Brown is back in the Championship with Sheffield WednesdayCredit: PA:Press Association
THERE COULD BE MORE
New recruit Malang Sarr could still be loaned out. Porto were interested but it would have to be a domestic departure.
Defender Antonio Rudiger could depart – while forgotten men Baba Rahman and Victor Moses are set to follow.
Jake Clarke-Salter, who has made one senior Chelsea appearance, is also likely to leave.
The Blues are also still looking for suitors to take Danny Drinkwater and Marco van Ginkel – while Charly Musonda could also head out of Stamford Bridge.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek started Chelsea’s PL opener at Brighton but has moved to FulhamCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Malang Sarr is expected to head out on loanCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
