Report: Chelsea expected to recall 20y/o midfield ace from loan | OneFootball

Chelsea are reportedly set to recall midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu from his loan spell at Southampton in the January transfer window, according to talkSPORT.

The Frenchman joined the Blues for over £20 million last summer but has struggled for regular playing time at St Mary’s.

Ugochukwu’s loan was part of a broader arrangement involving striker Sekou Mara’s move from Southampton to Chelsea’s sister club, Strasbourg.

However, the 20-year-old has started just three Premier League games since arriving at Southampton, leading Chelsea to reconsider his current development path.

The Blues are reportedly dissatisfied with Ugochukwu’s limited role under former Southampton manager Russell Martin and current boss Ivan Juric.

The club is keen for their promising midfielder to gain more consistent minutes, which is not currently happening on the south coast.

With an eye on the future, the Stamford Bridge hierarchy is unlikely to allow a valuable prospect to stagnate in a situation where development opportunities are scarce.

The move could open up other possibilities for Ugochukwu. The Blues might consider keeping him around with Romeo Lavia constantly on the treatment table.

Sometimes, the West Londoners must shore up the middle, and the Belgian is unavailable. Ugochukwu can add steel and make the engine room more formidable. He has shown glimpses of his talent even in pre-season under Maresca and should be allowed to strut his stuff.

Chelsea might also consider another loan arrangement where he can secure more game time. He would have benefitted from a loan stint at sister club Strasbourg, but with Caleb Wiley and Andrey Santos in France, there may be no room for Ugochukwu.

The smart idea might be to keep Ugochukwu around until the end of the season and send him to Strasbourg to replace Santos when he returns to London.

For now, though, his stint at Southampton is nearing an early conclusion as the January window approaches.