Transfer Centre

Chelsea 'to block Lesley Ugochukwu, Deivid Washington loan exits'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 12 September 2023

Chelsea 'to block Ugochukwu, Washington loan exits'

Chelsea reportedly have no intention of allowing Lesley Ugochukwu or Deivid Washington to go out on loan to a Turkish club over the coming days.

Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly decided to keep Lesley Ugochukwu and Deivid Washington at Chelsea until January.

On more than one occasion since his arrival at Stamford Bridge, the Argentine has spoken about the desire to work with a relatively small squad.

That is particularly the case given Chelsea's lack of European football this season, but Pochettino has needed to find a balance in recent weeks courtesy of a wide array of injuries and rehabilitations of first-team players.

As it stands, there are 25 outfield players competing for 11 spots, even with 11 senior players having been sold and nine other options going out on loan.

Pochettino ideally wanted no more than 22 or 23 players at his disposal, highlighting in press conferences that he would be prepared to introduce players from the academy.

Chelsea's new manager Mauricio Pochettino during the press conference on July 7, 2023 © Reuters

Ugochukwu and Washington were both deemed likely to go out on loan upon their arrivals from Rennes and Santos earlier in the summer.

Instead, they have remained in West London, with Ugochukwu having seemingly impressed Pochettino and Washington being required to act as backup courtesy of Mason Burstow's temporary switch to Sunderland.

According to Football Insider, the pair will be continuing their time at Chelsea for the coming months, rather than leaving for a club in Turkey.

The transfer window for Super Lig clubs remains open until close of business on Friday, and offers are expected to be made for fringe Premier League players.

Rennes' Lesley Ugochukwu in action with Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe in March 2023 © Reuters

Nevertheless, it is anticipated that any bids for Ugochukwu and Washington will be rejected with Pochettino seemingly having a change of heart regarding both players.

Ugochukwu has already made two substitute appearances in the Premier League and played the full 90 minutes versus AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Cup.

The recently-capped France Under-21 international is also effectively fourth choice in the pecking order, a consequence of injuries to Romeo Lavia and Carney Chukwuemeka.

Washington's game time may be more restricted than Ugochukwu's, yet the 18-year-old Brazilian is required courtesy of Armando Broja yet to return from a serious knee injury and Christopher Nkunku not being due back until at least November.