Chelsea Open to January Loan Moves for Dewsbury-Hall and Chukwuemeka
Chelsea are reportedly ready to entertain loan offers for midfielders Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka in the upcoming January transfer window.
Head coach Enzo Maresca appears keen on providing the fringe players with more consistent game time elsewhere, though the financial implications of their high wages may complicate potential deals.
Dewsbury-Hall’s Return to Leicester on the Cards?
Six months after his £30 million move from Leicester City, Dewsbury-Hall has struggled to cement a regular spot in Chelsea’s Premier League lineup. Instead, his appearances have been largely limited to the Europa Conference League and Chelsea’s second-string outings.
RelatedPosts
Former club Leicester are said to be interested in bringing the 25-year-old back, possibly on loan, to bolster their squad as they aim for promotion from the Championship. However, any agreement would likely require Chelsea to cover a portion of his salary.
Maresca recently commented on Dewsbury-Hall’s adaptation to life at Chelsea, acknowledging that the midfielder initially “struggled to accept” his reduced role. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Maresca explained:
“Kiernan was, at Leicester, the most important player. He moved to Chelsea to be one other player. You have to accept that. Probably at the beginning, you struggle to accept that. Now it’s getting better. Me as a manager, I am very happy with Kiernan, no doubt.
“But for sure for him, he has to continue to work, wait for the chance, and take it, in the way he is doing in the Conference League. He is doing OK.”
Chukwuemeka’s Search for Playing Time
Carney Chukwuemeka, who joined Chelsea as a teenager from Aston Villa in a £20 million deal, could also find himself on the move. The 21-year-old has been a bit-part player this season, with Crystal Palace reportedly long-term admirers of the young midfielder.
Maresca acknowledged over the summer that a loan move might have been the best course of action for Chukwuemeka’s development. Speaking earlier this season, the Chelsea boss said:
“Carney is a very good player, but for the amount of players we have, we decided at the beginning of the season it is probably better to leave and go somewhere, prove himself and play 30 or 35 games than being here and play less games.
“Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. He is our player. He had some minutes the other day; today, he was not involved. Hopefully, we can give him more minutes.”
Also, read: I Left Brentford for Chelsea – Now Arsenal Are Copying My Winning Tactics
Wage Challenges for Both Deals
Both Dewsbury-Hall and Chukwuemeka’s potential loan moves are complicated by their high wages. For clubs like Leicester and Crystal Palace, securing either player would likely require Chelsea to subsidize part of their salaries.
Chelsea’s Midfield Depth
Chelsea’s midfield depth remains a challenge for fringe players seeking regular game time. With Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, and Romeo Lavia commanding starting roles, opportunities for players like Dewsbury-Hall and Chukwuemeka have been limited.
A January move could provide both players with the chance to reignite their careers while allowing Chelsea to trim their squad and reduce the wage bill—albeit partially.
Chelsea Open to January Loan Moves for Dewsbury-Hall and Chukwuemeka
