Chelsea’s transfer ban can help clear deadwood and pave the youth path

Chelsea faces a potential transfer ban. The ban could see the Blues clear out dead wood and finally integrate the loan army.

As Chelsea waits to hear whether the impending transfer ban will be suspended until the completion of the appeals process (as it was with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid), more and more have started to wonder what this could do to the Blues’ starting line up next season.

Of course, a transfer ban for the next two transfer windows does not stop Chelsea from buying players; it simply stops them from registering the players. Deals have been done by clubs while under a ban, but rarely is there a player that wishes to sit out an entire season.

Unable to register players, Chelsea can still sell players but anyone coming into the first team for next season will have to be from Chelsea’s vast loan army. Before the Blues can explore who comes in, there must be first some subtractions.

Without Zinedine Zidane at the helm for Los Blancos it appeared that the Eden Hazard to Madrid transfer talk had cooled. However, with the Frenchman back in the picture, reports are starting to pile up again. Now it seems the Belgian captain and Chelsea talisman reportedly has his heart set on a move to Spain.

Do not not forget that Hazard has made up his mind on what he wants to do next, he just has not told any of the mere mortals what his intentions are yet. Perhaps he wants to stay at Stamford Bridge, cement his legendary status and join the rarefied air of recent greats Frank Lampard, John Terry, Didier Drogba and Petr Cech. For argument’s sake however, gamble on Hazard leaving for the Bernabeu in the summer.

Adding to this, striker Olivier Giroud’s recent comments make it look like he is angling for a move away in the summer as well. Both defender David Luiz and goalkeeper Willy Caballero are out of contract in the summer as well.

David Luiz is invested in London (he co-owns a restaurant with Willian) and for the most part he has held a starting role in Maurizio Sarri’s team. Caballero has a far more uncertain future with the club as he has appeared in only eight games this season. With the club coming into crucial games in their domestic and European campaigns the only foreseeable way for the Argentine to get off the bench is through an injury to Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Mateo Kovacic and Gonzalo Higuaín are both on loan at Chelsea for this season but as it stands now, there will not be a way to register them for next season and so they will have to return to Real Madrid and Juventus respectively.

There is also Davide Zappacosta who has time left on his deal, but considering Chelsea’s prospect pool and the Italian’s longing looks toward some Serie A clubs, chances are he might just leave this summer anyway.

It also remains to be seen whether Sarri himself will continue to be in the dugout next season. Chelsea being still outside of automatic Champions League football next year leaves Sarri in a precarious position. A Europa League win and the backdoor into the Champions League next season looks to be Chelsea and Sarri’s best hope.

All totaled Chelsea could lose at least four or five first team regulars before the start of next season, and that is before anyone else asks to leave West London.

While some may be fretting about the loss of five starters, the only massive loss is the obvious one: Hazard. Superstar talent cannot be replaced without a significant outlay of cash and Chelsea does not have that ability as it stands.

All of the other spots can be filled by some proven commodities already in the Chelsea system, and the best part about the transfer ban is that it will finally provide the opportunity for youth to be given a chance at Stamford Bridge.