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Chelsea loan army well-represented in promotion and relegation battles

By George Perry

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 04: Jordan Hugill (R) of Preston North End holds off the challenge of Tomas Kalas (L) of Fulham during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Preston North End at Craven Cottage on March 4, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 04: Jordan Hugill (R) of Preston North End holds off the challenge of Tomas Kalas (L) of Fulham during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Preston North End at Craven Cottage on March 4, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images) /
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With 37 (give or take) players on loan around the world, Chelsea are bound to have some loanees in promotion or relegation battles.

The Championship title switched hands with 20 minutes left in the season yesterday, with Chelsea loanees on both Premier League-bound teams. Christian Atsu and Fikayo Tomori had already secured promotion with Newcastle and Brighton, respectively. Brighton were 20 minutes away from winning the Championship title until a late Aston Villa goal consigned them to second.

Newcastle’s win also brings former Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez back to the Premier League on a high note. Benitez pledged to stay with Newcastle upon relegation last season. His hiring and subsequent success made him a symbol of rebirth around Newcastle. Benitez is a fan favourite for a club that he been short on favourite anything in recent years.

Fulham and Huddersfield Town are in the play-offs for the final promotion spot. Tomas Kalas and Lucas Piazon have extra motivation for Fulham’s fight. Kalas recently said that he wants to make his loan at Fulham permanent, given his frustrating experience as a Chelsea loanee. Piazon is one of Chelsea’s most vocally discontent loanees, as well. If they convince Chelsea to sell them to the club they currently call home, the Cottagers’ promotion will bring them back to the Premier League.

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Kasey Palmer and Isaiah Brown hope to end Huddersfield’s 31-year absence from the top tier. Both players are strong candidates to remain with Huddersfield for another year on loan. Neither are ready for Chelsea’s first team, and could use a year of lower-pressure Premier League experience to develop. However, Chelsea’s treatment of Kalas last year does not bode well for letting Palmer and Brown stay with Huddersfield upon promotion.

At the other end of the tables, some young Blues will be relieved to come back to Cobham for re-assignment rather than go down a league with their loan clubs. Four Chelsea loanees wrapped up their season on a League Two-bound Swindon Town team. Charlie Colkett, Dion Conroy, Islam Feruz and Fankaty Dabo could not keep Swindon afloat in League One.

Colkett and Dabo have the most promise and potential to go on a more advanced loan next season. A Championship, Eredivisie or Bundesliga club would accelerate their career development.

Next: Tammy Abraham receives Bristol City's top awards and appreciation

In Spain, Victorien Angban and Jeremie Boga experienced the few surreal days of the Tony Adams experiment on Granada. Neither Chelsea loanee nor Adams’ training-ground dances could keep Granada in La Liga.

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