Leeds United will have frustrated Chelsea after transfer faith: View | OneFootball

In 2018, Leeds signed Lewis Baker, Jamal Blackman, Izzy Brown on loan from Chelsea, but they were deals that didn't work out

It's a commodity that three signings from the same club will happen in the same window, and even less likely that all three would turn out to be flops. Leeds United signed Chelsea trio Lewis Baker, Jamal Blackman and Izzy Brown on loan in 2018. Little did they know, all three would fail to reach the heights they would've hoped.

Come the summer of 2018, Chelsea's young prospects were a hot property on the loan market with Championship clubs. As the Premier League giants looked to find the right opportunities for their young players to grow, they would do anything but with these three deals.

Ultimately, Baker, Brown, and Blackman didn't go on to have careers at the London club. The opportunities that went begging during their stints at Elland Road could've been the turning point in all three of their careers.

Bielsa wanted to revolutionise Leeds

Marcelo Bielsa was appointed Leeds manager in the summer of 2018, with the task of securing a return to the Premier League his ultimate goal. Wholesale changes were required to keep the pressure on the top two spots, which would yield promotion. Like many clubs in the EFL, the Whites turned to the Premier League for answers, specifically Chelsea.

A talented crop of players who were Championship-tested had already become available on loan. Bielsa moved quickly to fend off the competition, securing the signings of Baker, Brown, and Blackman. This seemed like a smart move from all parties, as Leeds got proven Championship players, and Chelsea would get more mature and experienced players returning to them, or so they thought.

All three were expected to play their part in the forthcoming promotion push, but two wouldn't even see out the season at Elland Road. Brown, in particular, had just come off the back of an injury-riddled season with Premier League side Brighton, so a move to the second tier made sense. Blackman and Baker had both played for Sheffield United and Middlesbrough in the season before joining the Argentine's side, so were accustomed to the demands of the level.

The chance to play in a historic stadium with a passionate set of fans behind you, under an elite coach, was an opportunity too good to turn down. Bielsa had the pull to get players to join up with his team, no matter who he managed.

He was brought to Yorkshire to get this once-great club out of its Championship slumber and finally return to the Premier League. He would eventually achieve this, but it wouldn't be this season.

Injuries destroyed Brown and Blackman's chances of success

Unfortunately, two of Leeds' loanees had a history of injury. Brown was still in rehabilitation for his previous cruciate ligament injury when he signed for the club. This saw the wide man playing for the under-23s while he fully recovered. To add insult to injury, the former Brighton man then suffered a hamstring injury which ruled him out until February, three months before the season was over.

Blackman's season would be even worse. He was unable to take the first-choice spot from Bailey Peacock-Farrell, which saw him only make a single EFL Cup appearance in his first three months with the club. Then, similarly to his Chelsea teammate, he found himself playing for the under-23s. Sadly, he sustained a broken tibia after clashing with Beryly Lubala in a defeat to Birmingham City's under-23s, which meant he returned to his parent club.

He left having never registered a single league appearance for the club, which was a real setback for the man who'd had two very successful loan spells at Wycombe Wanderers and Sheffield United previously.

His fellow loanee did return to action in February though, coming on as a substitute in a 1-0 defeat to Queen's Park Rangers. This proved to be half of the action Brown would see that season, as he didn't feature again until Leeds were humiliated in the play-offs by Derby County in their backyard. This ended Leeds' season and brought to an end a tumultuous loan spell for Brown.

Fortunately, Baker didn't suffer the same fate as his colleagues. However, he never really got a look in at Elland Road, featuring just 14 times for the club. Chelsea had enough of letting their talent rot on the bench, so they opted to recall the midfielder in January.

Chelsea left with bitter taste from Leeds loan deals

To this day, there hasn't been another loan deal between the two clubs. Whilst this was six years ago and personnel have changed across the board at both clubs, the Premier League giants no doubt felt aggrieved by the lack of game time their young players were afforded.

With plenty of talented young players on the books who would benefit massively from a Championship loan, it would be safe to assume that Leeds are low down on the list of potential suitors for Chelsea's youth. A disappointing end to what could've kickstarted their careers.

Sadly, neither player went on to reach the heights anticipated for them at Chelsea. Brown called time on his playing career in 2023, due to his injury problems, whilst Blackman finds himself without a club, having most recently been with Burton Albion.

Baker went on to have a decent career in English football, having made just under 100 appearances for Stoke City, before joining Blackburn Rovers on loan this summer.

All in all, a trio of deals that had so much promise from everyone involved turned into an absolute nightmare. Whilst it's doubtful there are any sour grapes to this day, surely the outcome of these deals will be in the back of Chelsea's minds if they ever receive a loan approach from Leeds again.