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New Chelsea contract, same Fulham loan for Lucas Piazon; JCS extends

By George Perry

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 4: Lucas Piazon of Fulham and Stephen Gleeson of Birmingham City in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Fulham at St Andrews Stadium on February 4, 2017 in Birmingham, England (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images).
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 4: Lucas Piazon of Fulham and Stephen Gleeson of Birmingham City in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Fulham at St Andrews Stadium on February 4, 2017 in Birmingham, England (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images). /
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Lucas Piazon and Jake Clarke-Salter signed new contracts with Chelsea on Friday. Piazon promptly reported back to Fulham for another season on loan, while Clarke-Salter waits to learn where he will be this season.

While Chelsea transfer out their most senior youth players, more junior youngsters sign new contracts and return to their usual place in the loan army. As Nathan Ake and Nathaniel Chalobah settle in permanently at their once-loan clubs, Lucas Piazon is taking the next step to a permanent transfer by spending another year at Fulham.

Piazon and Jake Clarke-Salter signed two- and four-year extensions, respectively, with the Blues. Following the proudest traditions of Chalobah himself, Piazon will spend his sixth season on loan with his fifth team. Last year he had five goals and four assists in 30 Championship appearances at Fulham.

Like his fellow Blue-moved-down-the-road Tomas Kalas, Piazon has become a fan- and club favourite at Craven Cottage. At age 23 with a solid loan resume, this should have been his year to go on pre-season with Chelsea. His nearly-automatic return to Fulham and the short term of his contract indicates that Chelsea are keen to sell Piazon, but are waiting to see if Fulham return to the Premier League after next season.

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Fulham finished sixth in the Championship last year and bowed out to Reading in the promotion playoffs. Fulham are favourites for promotion next year. Chelsea can extract higher fees for Piazon and Kalas from a team ascending to the Premier League than one staying the Championship, particularly given the role these loanees will play in promotion.

Fulham has also turned into a strong loan destination for Chelsea. Its proximity to Stamford Bridge makes it easy for the loan staff to keep an eye on the loanees (yes, that is as lazy as it sounds). If Fulham returns to the top flight Chelsea will only be able to send one play there on loan. Given the players and club involved, Chelsea will not fear making this sale to a competitor.

Jake Clarke-Salter spent his first season on loan at Bristol Rovers last season. Clarke-Salter is a prime candidate for a year at Vitesse, but a loan to the Championship could also be in the offing.

Clarke-Salter is part of Chelsea’s “golden generation” of academy squads. He has all the makings of a Premier League defender. He needs one more lower-level season before he will be ready for his Premier League debut, which will likely happen somewhere other than Chelsea.

Next: Chelsea unwilling to increase Danilo bid by £3 million

During any other summer, contract extensions for Lucas Piazon and Jake Clarke-Salter would be an optimistic sign for their potential future at Chelsea. This time around, we can at least be a bit more clear-eyed and consider the new contracts promising signs for their careers, wherever that may be.

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