Newly-promoted Huddersfield Town may continue to be Chelsea loan destination

Huddersfield Town will make their Premier League debut next season, returning to the top flight for the first time since the early 1970s. Chelsea loanees may have a large role in the Terriers extending their stay.

Chelsea loanees Isaiah Brown and Kasey Palmer both played in Huddersfield Town’s 0-0 (4-3) promotion playoff win over Reading. Brown started for the Terriers and played the first 98 minutes before Palmer replaced him for the remainder of extra time.

The two had nearly identical statistics at Huddersfield, even though Brown arrived in the January transfer window and Palmer played the full season there. Both scored four goals in just over 1300 minutes. Brown started 15 games and made three substitute appearances. Palmer started 16 games and had nine appearances from the bench.

Huddersfield ascend to the Premier League despite having a -2 goal differential to go with their fifth-place finish. Only ninth-place Derby County scored fewer goals among the Championship’s top 10 teams.

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Kasey Palmer and Isaiah Brown were Huddersfield’s third-highest scorers with their four goals. One of the Terriers’ top priorities this summer will be using their promotion payout to sign several forwards. They need a combination of proven Premier League-calibre goal-scorers and younger players.

In addition to being a low-scoring team, Huddersfield are also among the oldest. Among Huddersfield’s 15 most frequently-used players, only three outfield players are under 25. Two of those are the pair of Chelsea loanees.

Huddersfield manager David Wagner places a strong emphasis on team chemistry and camaraderie. He may be reluctant to bring in loanees for fear they may dilute the team spirit with their transience. Wagner may seek out loan-to-own deals wherever possible.

However, Kasey Palmer and Isaiah Brown are already well-known and respected members of the club. They have both earned their right to play with the Terriers in the top flight, and Wagner would likely welcome another season from them. Chelsea may not believe they are ready for Premier League football, but a perfect situation to blood them presents itself with Huddersfield.

The Blues may also loan Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Tammy Abraham to Huddersfield. Abraham showed that he is ready for the Premier League after his season at Bristol City. Loftus-Cheek needs to play consistently in a top tier club anywhere if he is to regain his career’s momentum. Both have the speed and – particularly Abraham – the scoring nous that Huddersfield will need to survive.

Chelsea could also unload Dominic Solanke on a permanent transfer to the Terriers. Chelsea will set a high fee on Solanke, even though they will be happy to get rid of him at nearly any price. They would also be relieved to not sell him to Liverpool. If Huddersfield wanted to make a statement of intent they could do so by buying – at a high but fair price – a young, highly-rated striker from a top Premier League academy.

However, Solanke’s rumoured contract dissatisfaction at Chelsea could possibly turn off David Wagner. Solanke supposedly demanded £50,000 a week at Chelsea. Huddersfield did not pay any players more than £10,000 a week. They will almost certainly have to raise that maximum wage to survive in the Premier League. They may not feel that Solanke – or any newly-arrived transfer – should be paid so much more than the old cap.

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Chelsea have a surfeit of young talent who need minutes. Meanwhile, Huddersfield need significant short-term and long-term reinforcements, particularly on offence. Chelsea’s loan army helped Huddersfield earn promotion to the Premier League. There is every reason to expect Blues’ loanees will help Huddersfield ward off a quick return to the Championship.

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