Top Five: Chelsea players who need to be loaned out

Last season Chelsea’s loan rangers included Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne whose excellent performances have forced them in to the first team picture and Thibaut Courtois who seems deigned to take over from Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal in the long term. If used properly, the loan system can achieve two positive outcomes for player and club. The most desirable is the example of Lukaku and De Bruyne. They had such a good season as a regular starter that they surge in to the first team squad and arrive essentially as new signings. The other is that having struggled for game time they can use a loan period to remind other clubs of their abilities in order to get a move. Good for the club too as they would get more money from doing this. If Liverpool hadn’t loaned out Andy Carroll last season there’s no way West Ham would be paying £15.5m for him.

This is a countdown of Chelsea players who need loans for either of these reasons.

Nathaniel Chalobah (18) – Central/Defensive midfield

Scout Report Chalobah was absolutely outstanding on loan at Watford last season, showcasing his almost terrifying calmness in possession, such an alien skill for a young English player. He is a beautifully swift and elegant mover who displays ghostly floaty movement which is reminiscent of Xavi. He has a full range of passing, with his real specialty being the raking long range cross field pass to open up play. He’s also a threat when running with the ball as he can glide through tackles or show strength to fight them.

So why does he need a loan? Chalobah very much falls in to the first category listed above. He needs the loan in order to keep getting experience and he needs this to be in the Premier League. Another season of excellent form could see him in the first team squad for 2014/15.

Where should he go? Ideally, he needs Premier League football. Swansea play the right style of football and may well not get De Guzman back. Stoke are looking to play football properly and could use his passing and flair.

Marko Marin (24) – Attacking midfield/wide forward

Scout Report Marin has extreme pace and plays in a very direct and menacing manner. Everything he does is at speed as he shuffles around the field. In Germany he showed that he can both score and make goals from out wide and has been effective when supplying a strong target man presence.

So why does he need a loan? Marin was the spare man for Chelsea last year and that’s only going to get worse with De Bruyne and Schurrle for competition. He needs to remind teams of his capabilities and increase his sale value for Chelsea.

Where should he go? Werder Bremen to replace De Bruyne. They’re his old club and he can rejuvenate his career there. Freiburg are in the Europa League and have lost some key attackers. West Brom play with width and speed on the counter attack if he wants to display his talent in England.

Lucas Piazon (19) – Attacking midfield/forward

Scout Report Piazon starred in the Brazil youth set up as the new Kaka. Like his senior team mate at the peak of his powers, Piazon is a dangrous runner, intelligent positionally and capable of making and scoring goals. Also like Kaka, Piazon is tall for his position at 6ft which gives him an imposing presence when gliding through midfield and in to dangerous attacking areas.

So why does he need a loan? Piazon is not quite ready for the Chelsea first team as it is, and with their ever increasing band of attacking midfielders his path to the team looks ever more difficult. However, with the pure talent that he has, a successful loan could force Mourinho’s hand in future.

Where should he go? He was at Malaga last season and with Isco leaving he should return. As Isco took over from Santi Cazorla and starred, Piazon could take over from Isco. He’d be a good compliment to Ramirez and Lallana for Southampton to show off his Premier League pedigree.

Nathan Ake (18) – Defensive midfield

Scout Report Ake showed in his first team exposure that he is a hard worker, with good defensive discipline and positioning. He’s also a tidy passer of the ball. A bustling and stocky player, he looks to have a good frame to add strength to.

So why does he need a loan? Needs to keep up the momentum he gained with first team exposure in order to push to be a future starter with Chalobah after Lampard in a few years time.

Where should he go? If Twente lose Leroy Fer they will need to fill the void. Herenveen could also make sense. Another option could be replacing Chalobah at Watford.

Tomáš Kalas (20) – Central defender/right back

Scout Report Kalas may not be a massively well know name but he’s getting close to being a very useful proposition. At 6’1? Kalas bares more than a passing resemblance to the power and physical domination of Branislav Ivanovic and it could ironically be the Serb who loses out to the young Czech long term. He was superb at Vitesse last season and is ready to step up in quality.

So why does he need a loan? Showing that he can play first team football at a higher standard could make him ready for the Chelsea first team in 2014/15. Terry is old, they’re not committed to Cahill and Jose Mourinho builds his teams from defense forward.

Where should he go? Ready for the Premier League. Would be a strong option for Cardiff or Fulham who need to upgrade in central defence. May be assigned to the Bundesliga, possibly to Hamburg where Chelsea have links with Frank Arnesen.