Seems to be Chelsea’s only small business need to do this winter is to find a team to take center-back Fikayo Tomori on loan for the remainder of the campaign.
The 23-year-old, who is highly regarded by many at Chelsea and England, has just four appearances to his name in all competitions this season, including just 45 minutes of Premier League action.
Given he has failed to make the squad of the day for 12 of Chelsea’s 17 Premier League games so far this season, a loan transfer seems necessary – and the latest rumors suggest that AC Milan is enthusiastic.
At first glance, this seems like a good decision. Tomori would gain experience with the Serie A leaders and therefore return to Chelsea as the best player. Everyone wins.
Unfortunately, the world is not that simple.
Stefano Pioli’s side lead the league and have a defensive record improved only by Juventus, Napoli and Verona. Alessio Romagnoli and Simon Kjaer have been the usual center-back duo, and both have been excellent. What they are doing now is clearly working.
Romagnoli and Kjaer will continue to start the vast majority of games, so minutes will remain difficult to find for reservists. Leo Duarte had just 18 minutes to his name before being sent on loan, and Matteo Musacchio hasn’t even played a minute this year.
Pioli doesn’t want a new starter, he wants extra cover to replace Duarte. If it was Tomori, he would find himself filling the void left by the most marginal of marginal players. It’s bad.
Chelsea can’t afford to send Tomori to a squad where he won’t get regular minutes. He’s miserable as he is, and a miserable loan spell elsewhere would likely lead to a permanent move from the Bridge next summer.
The Blues need to think wisely about their next move and send Tomori to a squad that is ready to commit to him for the rest of the campaign.
As to who it really is, it’s not clear. The Telegraph recently destroyed links to Newcastle or Leeds United, but it is believed that there is still interest in Tomori in both the Premier League and La Liga.
What is clear is that Tomori needs as much top flight experience as possible. While the England international impressed last season, a few poor performances have highlighted the fact that Tomori is not yet the finished product.
He’s only 23, so expect a few bumps in the road, but the only way to smooth things out is through playing games. Chelsea can’t offer him that and Milan probably wouldn’t commit to Tomori as much as needed, so a different solution has to be found.
A mid-table team in England or Spain would be the perfect destination for Tomori, who is eager to hone his craft and prove he deserves a place in both a top squad and in the squad. England.
Money shouldn’t play a role in Chelsea’s decision. The only thing that matters here is Tomori’s development, and sending her to a team that will guarantee her minutes is the only way forward from now on.
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