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

Kovacic leaving only makes it better for Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek as it becomes a two horse race for starting duties. There are a few options that could act as a replacement for the outgoing Croatian, and no, it is not Mason Mount (yet).

That spot in midfield is earmarked for Mount. He is definitely part of Chelsea’s midfield for the future, but next season he should be sent out to an established Premier League or Bundesliga team to get consistent games at the highest possible level.

For the current Chelsea midfield, two real options remain. One is more laughable considering his ominous start in West London. Enter Tiemoue Bakayoko. The other is a more of a “who?” proposition that comes in the form of Marco van Ginkel.

Bakayoko’s early struggles at AC Milan have been fading more and more thanks to his play as of late, while Van Ginkel has quietly been very good for PSV for the past few years and even took the captaincy despite being a loanee. While Van Ginkel is recovering from further surgery to his knee, he has proven to be capable of playing across the midfield.

One final contender for the midfield is of course, Ethan Ampadu. The Welshman is raw but talented nonetheless and in his limited playing time this year he has proven that he can at the very least cope at this level.