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Romelu Lukaku's return to Chelsea for a club-record fee is the latest talk from the transfer town. Players returning to play for their former clubs is not something we get to see every day in football. It's always an eventful occasion, something that everyone looks forward to.
The Chelsea Academy is brimming with talent
It's no surprise that Chelsea have the most players on loan around the world. The Premier League club's academy is one of the most renowned talent producers in Europe and it's often impossible for all of them to feature in the first team.
Most academy graduates are either let go on loan or permanently, with the option of bringing them back in the future often applied. Chelsea's history of losing talent in the past has made them more cautious when selling young prospects these days.
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On that note, let's take a look at five former Chelsea players who could yet make a return to the club in the future.
#5 Fikayo Tomori
Having joined Chelsea at a young age, Tomori raced through the ranks being part of a very successful youth team. After making his debut, he left on various loan spells in the Championship. He then returned to the club along with Frank Lampard, who took on the reigns in a season hit with a transfer embargo in 2019.
The centre-back had an impressive season, making his breakthrough into the first team alongside many other young players under Lampard. However, it wasn't long before he found himself on the sidelines having been limited to just four appearances in all competitions in the 2020-21 season.
Amid a rumored fallout with Lampard, Tomori left on loan to Milan in January last season, with an option to make it permanent at the end of the season.
An imposing loan stint with the Rossoneri, helping them to a second-place finish in Serie A, was more than enough for the club hierarchy to sign him permanently. A £25 million permanent deal clause with £5 million in potential add-ons as agreed beforehand ensured the defender signed a contract until 2025.
Even during the brief period he was at Stamford Bridge, Tomori had done enough to showcase his talents in the center of defense and quickly become a fan favorite. Though Chelsea don't have a buy-back clause in his contract, it wouldn't be surprising if he's wanted back at the club in the future given his enormous potential.
#4 Marc Guehi
Another one of Chelsea's academy products, Marc Guehi, was also part of the young crop that dominated youth tournaments in the country for a long time. He was at the club during Lampard's first season in charge, making his professional debut in a 7–1 win against Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup.
He left for Swansea on loan in January last season, making his name in the Championship and becoming a mainstay in the Swans' defense on their journey to the play-offs.
Chelsea did discuss a contract extension but Guehi was not keen to remain a part of the 'loan army' and wanted regular first team minutes. With the possibility of regular involvement unlikely, the defender opted to seek greener pastures.
His destination proved to be Crystal Palace on a five-year deal for a reported fee of £18 million. Chelsea have also agreed a sell on fee and matching rights clause in his contract displaying the belief the club still have on him.
Guehi is certainly one to watch for in the coming years and a return to his boyhood club is never off the cards.
#3 Tammy Abraham
A Chelsea academy graduate, Tammy Abraham has been among the goals in almost all of his loan spells. It wasn't long before he made his debut and was later handed the no.9 to lead the attack under Frank Lampard.
He finished his first full season at Chelsea as the club's top scorer and everything ticked up for him to remain the Blues' frontman for the long term. However, things went downhill when Thomas Tuchel became head coach last season.
Abraham fell down the pecking order behind Timo Werner and Olivier Giroud, scarcely featuring on the pitch, but still finishing as the joint-top scorer for the season.
Tuchel's Chelsea went onto become European champions but their woes in front of goal continued and a new targetman was prioritized for the summer. Following Lukaku's transfer, Abraham signed for Roma in a £34m deal.
A buy-back option of £68 million, which can only be triggered after two seasons, has been inserted into his contract with the Serie A club. It indicates the possibility of a way back for him to return to Chelsea in the future. As Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said:
"Tammy will always be welcomed back at Stamford Bridge as one of our own. We have all enjoyed watching his progress through our academy and into the first-team squad, and are grateful for his contribution to our successes at senior and youth level."
Don't think there can be a clearer message on how much the club values him and can activate the clause in time. Abraham will surely be willing to prove a point at Stamford Bridge if he gets a second chance.
#2 Valentino Livramento
Chelsea's Academy Player of the year for the 2020–21 season, Tino Livramento, has been tipped for success at senior level. Despite not making a senior debut, the 18-year-old right back was already on the watchlist of several top European clubs last season.
With only a year left on his contract, Livramento was concerned about his chances of clocking regular first team minutes at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea had also shown strong interest in signing Achraf Hakimi, who later joined Paris Saint-Germain, back then.
After failed contract extension talks, Livramento decided to pursue his football elsewhere. Southampton secured his services amid interest from clubs like Brighton, AC Milan, Aston Villa and RB Leipzig.
Despite not playing a single minute of top flight football, Chelsea raised a fee around £5m for Livramento, even inserting a buy-back clause of £25m.
Livramento has featured throughout the entirety of Southampton's two games so far this season and looks set to enjoy regular first-team football. If he does live up to his glaring potential, Chelsea could be tempted to activate the clause to lure him back to Stamford Bridge.
#1 Declan Rice
Having joined Chelsea's academy at the age of seven, Rice was released when he was 14 and moved onto West Ham United's academy. It wasn't long before he was playing for their first team. Since then, Rice has become one of the most sought after defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
A regular in the middle of the park for England throughout Euro 2020, the 22-year-old has courted serious interest from Chelsea. N'Golo Kante's injury troubles over the past few years have highlighted the Blues' need to bring in a midfielder of the same profile who could replace the Frenchman in the long term.
Although Tuchel has maintained an interest in signing Rice, West Ham's valuation has been deemed excessive by Chelsea. Rice is valued at around £100m which mean Chelsea will have to spend some big money if they are to price him away to Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United have also expressed their interest in Rice and so it won't be an easy task for Chelsea to sign the young England international.
One can expect large bids to be coming in for Rice very soon, who has a contract with the Hammers until 2024.
However, it feels as if Rice will eventually move on from West Ham and his former club Chelsea are expected to be involved in the race to land him in the future.
