£22m Chelsea duo will head out on loan in summer in pursuit of starting role

Chelsea have a reputation of loaning their academy stars and young acquisitions on loan where they can blossom and get regular playing time. New recruits David Datro Fofana and Gabriel Slonina are expected to follow the same path this summer.

Under new owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, Chelsea have accelerated their mega rebuild as 16 players have come in through the Stamford Bridge doors over the last two transfer windows. With CFC trying to steamroll their way to become an unassailable European and Premier League giant, there is little room for youngsters to develop at Stamford Bridge and make the cut to the first team.

Chelsea have a tried and tested method of loaning the youngsters until they are competent for the first squad or they can attract the attention of a buyer. The likes of Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori, Kurt Zouma and so many others followed the same trajectory before either making a place for themselves in the Chelsea team or leaving the Blues permanently.

David Datro Fofana and Gabriel Slonina could depart Chelsea on loan in summer

Chelsea signed some promising talents in Andrey Santos, Carney Chukwuemeka, Slonina and Datro Fofana in summer and winter transfer windows. While all four are currently at the club, things could change come this summer. Santos is likely to depart to Palmeiras on loan after Chelsea failed to get a work permit for the Brazilian.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Datro Fofana and Slonina could leave CFC on loan in pursuit of a starting role elsewhere.

"“David Datro Fofana will have a possibility to go and play as a starter. It is an idea of the club to send Fofana on loan. He had proposals from Galatasaray and OGC Nice but the player was not keen. Gabriel Slonina is now with the squad but the expectation is for him in the summer to have an opportunity to play regularly out on loan” (via Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube Channel)"

Datro Fofana arrived at Chelsea from Molde for £10 million in January and has shown glimpses of his talent. At this point, he is still raw and needs to be refined before he can come in contention to start for Chelsea. The 20 year old started against Southampton but his inexperience was widely visible as he struggled in front of the goal.

The Ivorian will remain at Stamford Bridge until the end of the season and will have more minutes but a starter’s role will only be guaranteed when he departs on loan in the summer. Slonina on the other hand became a Chelsea player last summer but was on loan at Chicago Fire until the end of the MLS season.

With Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy contesting for the No.1 spot between the sticks, it is unlikely that Slonina will get a better role than being the third choice keeper. Sending him on a loan assignment will be a win-win for all concerned parties and Slonina will have regular minutes between the sticks.

Will David Datro Fofana and Gabriel Slonina excel during their loan assignments?