Revealed: Chelsea could loan out €35m star in January
Cameron Smith
- 10 Dec 2023 11:43 GMT
- 3 min read
Chelsea forward Noni Madueke could leave the club on loan during the January transfer window after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge, according to reports.
The England U21 star has started just one Premier League game this season and has been an unused substitute in six league games since Mauricio Pochettino took charge in July.
The Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate joined Chelsea for €35 million from PSV Eindhoven during the 2023 January transfer window, but has failed to become a regular in west London.
Raheem Sterling, Cole Palmer and Mykhailo Mudryk are all ahead of Madueke in the current pecking order, while Christopher Nkunku’s return to fitness could see the Englishman fall even out of contention at Stamford Bridge.
Madueke to leave Chelsea?
In early December, TEAMTalk reported that Madueke may push for a January move away in order to secure more regular game time and this has been backed by Ben Jacobs.
He has revealed to Give Me Sport: “If the right kind of offer comes in to get him some minutes and then return to Chelsea, if it suits all parties and it's feasible, it could be something that is considered.
“But I don't think that this is a case of an unhappy player, pushing for a permanent exit, as some reports suggest.”
Madueke signed a seven-year deal when he joined Chelsea at the start of this year, meaning his current contract at the club runs until 2030.
As a result, a permanent exit is only likely if the Blues receive an offer in excess of the €35m they paid PSV to sign him in January.
Given Madueke has been unable to establish himself as a regular in an underperforming Chelsea attack, it’s unlikely any interested party would be willing to offer a fee deemed acceptable by the Blues.
As a result, a loan move may prove to be a sensible option for everyone involved.
