The latest episode of Chelsea’s long-running show of hand-player-to-Crystal Palace-and-want-him-back features versatile defender Trevoh Chalobah. At the beginning of this season, following the arrival of head coach Enzo Maresca, the Sierra Leone-born player was loaned out to Palace. He went on to become a key player for The Eagles, starting 12 of the 20 English Premier League games played so far.
Besides being dependable in his defensive duties, Chalobah has proved himself more than useful as an attacking outlet. He’s the Eagles’ third-highest scorer so far this season with three goals. The last of these was a commanding header that helped his team seal a 2-1 win over Southampton.
Welcome back, but don't get cozy
That game marked the 25-year-old’s last appearance as a Palace loanee. Perhaps proceedings were already underway to seal his return to Stamford Bridge as has been reported by a number of sources (though Maresca had been poo-pooing those rumors). You could forgive Chalobah for growing weary of returning to Cobham after yet another loan spell- the Palace loan was his fourth since going pro with Chelsea.
He must be wondering what he has to do to prove his worth to the club he started playing for as a bright-eyed eight-year-old. But the latest recall may have less to do with what he can do on the pitch than what other injured Chelsea defenders can’t. Long-term injuries to Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile have left Maresca short of tried-and-tested center backs.
18-year-old academy product Josh Acheampong is the only other center-back the Italian seems to trust in the heart of his defense along with Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo.
Return of the Marc
Reports indicate that another Cobham graduate who has been plying his trade for Crystal Palace could be returning to boost the Blues' defensive options before the end of January. That the club would be willing to take a ￡50 million loss to re-sign Marc Guéhi shows how badly Maresca wants to shore up his defense.
Should the move be completed, Conor Gallagher may have reason to begin looking over his shoulder. Enzo Fernandez, Moisés Caiceido and Roméo Lavia are living up to their high billings in the Chelsea midfield, but if Atlético Madrid go on and win La Liga, as they're currently threatening to do, you never know.
We're the passengers, you're the pilot
Coming back to Trevoh Chalobah, another school of thought is that his return is a sign that the Blues hierarchy doesn't see the need to swallow the Guéhi L. Either way, Crystal Palace looks set to end January with a substantially weakened backline. "We are passengers, we're not the pilot who is flying this plane", Eagles boss Oliver Glasner admitted helplessly.
Here's hoping that Chelsea's raid into their London neighbors' war chest will strengthen the defense enough to stanch the bleeding of points that has seen them slide to fourth on the table. Facing the very real possibility of slipping out of the Champions League places if on-form Newcastle United win their home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers today, Maresca will be in no mood to sympathize with his Palace counterpart.