Romano’s unexpected “here we go” creates questions about Chelsea strategy | OneFootball

Things are moving quickly at Chelsea at the moment, especially in terms of outgoing players, and last night’s news from Fabrizio Romano caught us all a little on the hop.

We have all been following the main storylines of the week – Joao Felix and Renato Veiga have been the dominant figures – but then something sneaks up on us from nowhere.

Romano gives “here we go” to Chelsea defender departure

Fabrizio Romano gives a here we go out of the Blues.

Fabrizio Romano reported out of the Blue that Mamadou Sarr, the young French centre back who Chelsea signed from Strasbourg this summer, would be going back to his former team on loan.

Sarr has been training with the team at the Club World Cup and made his debut there, but at some point the decision has been made to send him back the Alsatians.

Chelsea’s strange Sarr decision asks questions

This is an odd move because it means Chelsea have used up one of their precious foreign loan slots. As many have pointed out, the sensible way to sign him if they wanted him to stay put was to just agree a deal to take place next summer, as they have with Geovany Quenda.

The only explanation is that there’s been a change of plans, and it’s a costly one. There are big name players who need clubs and youngsters who need to be developed. Taking away a slot costs opportunities.

It’s great news for Strasbourg, of course, who Romano mentions are planning for an upcoming season with “top 5 ambitions.” They can lose out in the sister club relationship with Chelsea at times, but in this case they’re certainly being kept strong, and we’d expect more additions in the weeks to come.

It’s also good news for Benoit Badiashile, who looks ever more entrenched as a squad option that Enzo Maresca is happy to rely on.