Stay or loan? Rating Chelsea's young players' odds of making the team

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chelsea, andreas christensen, lewis baker

SINGAPORE – JULY 23: (L-R) Andreas Christensen and Lewis Baker of Chelsea FC arrive at Jet Quay Private Terminal ahead of the International Champions Cup on July 23, 2017 in Singapore. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images for ICC) /

Chelsea’s loan machine moved along at pace during the closing week of Chelsea’s pre-season tour in Asia. Several youngsters packed up for their first loan, with Mason Mount leading the way to Vitesse for his first season of senior-level football. Other loan army veterans took their assignments, with a record number heading to other teams in the Premier League.

For the players on tour in Asia, their pre-season performances will determine the level of their loan assignment. Chelsea have already assigned Tomas Kalas back to Fulham, while the others await their fate.

Here are our ratings – out of 10 – of each remaining player’s odds of staying with Chelsea’s first team this season.

GK. Poland. MARCIN BULKA. 0. The 17-year old Polish goalkeeper joined up with the Chelsea squad this summer. Already as tall as Thibaut Courtois, he is clearly one for the future and will be spending time with the Chelsea U23 and U18 squads. Given that Jamal Blackman was sent to Sheffield United, and the club specifically noted Eduardo and Willy Caballero being ahead of him in the depth chart, it s a near impossibility that Bulka will be anywhere near the first team squad.

ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN. 9. Having earned rave reviews for his performances at Borussia Monchengladbach, Christensen joined up with the first team squad and is set to stay. He has already been issued a jersey number for the next season. As one of the top young center-backs in Europe, integrating Christensen is both a litmus test for the loan system and also a smart long term move.. CB. Denmark

Brazil. KENEDY . -1. After being recalled early from his loan at Watford last season, Kenedy has been training with Conte for the past six months. Kenedy promised much two years ago but, having barely played since then, he has stalled. His terrible social media gaffe and the subsequent controversy it caused might well put an end to not only his chances of being a part of Chelsea squad this season, it might put an end to his time as a Chelsea player too.. MF

FIKAYO TOMORI. 4. The past year and a half has been a wild ride for Tomori. After winning the double with the U18s last season, he has had a successful loan stint in the Championship and also won the U20 World Cup with England. Antonio Conte tried him out as a wingback this summer, a new position to him, but he has taken to it well. Should Conte not find suitable reinforcements this summer, Tomori might end up being Victor Moses’ understudy.. DF. England

Clarke-Salter also has had a successful summer with the U20s and is one of the few players who has won three FA Youth Cups on the bounce. An unfortunate injury disrupted his season in League One last season but he seems ready to step up to the Championship. Chelsea are not in need of center-backs at this moment and a loan is the likeliest outcome. However, him being left-footed might mean that Conte would like to keep him and develop him in house.. CB. England. JAKE CLARKE-SALTER. 2

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Stay or loan? Rating Chelsea’s young players’ odds of making the team

By Siva Sankar | Jul 28, 2017

Chelsea took along a cadre of young players to provide warm bodies in training and to provide relief to the first team squad in games. But what are the chances of these players staying for the season?