Chelsea transfer news as the Blues prepare to make vital U-turn following poor first half of the season.
Chelsea are ready to end the loan deal of David Datro Fofana with Union Berlin this month as they look to continue sweeping changes in the loan department ahead of the second half of the season. The young striker joined the Blues last winter but has had a tough time of things since, falling out of favour in Germany quickly.
After arriving as a relatively unknown quantity from Molde on a cheap deal 12 months ago Fofana has found it hard to breakthrough at Chelsea and only made a few fleeting appearances in the league last season
However, a falling out with then-manager Urs Fischer cost him a regular place in the side. Union have now won just two of their last 13 in the league and sit perilsously close to the relegation places. Having miraculously finished fourth last year it is quite the comedown and not the type of atmosphere Fofana is thriving in.
The 21-year-old is set to end his loan in the coming days, reports suggest, with an immediate move already being prepared. It is likely to see him join Spanish side Sevilla swiftly afterwards as they look to improve on a disappointing first half to the season themselves.
Sevilla are 16th in La Liga, just one point above the drop zone after 19 games. For Chelsea it is a chance to salvage some positivity from a tough first year for Fofana. For a player who arrived with little downside due to his price and the possibility of developing into a talented forward, the loan system has largely failed the club so far.
Hakim Ziyech is not having a great time of things in Galatasary – though his agent has rebuffed talks of it being terminated this month – and Kepa Arrizabalaga has dropped to being second choice keeper at Real Madrid even in the absence of Thibaut Courtois. Diego Moreira and Lyon are having a bad time in France while Gabriel Slonina is hardly fairing much better.
The same aim was true for Fofana, who the club will see as an easy way to make money on a low-risk but possibly low-reward player trade over time. If things had gone to plan then Fofana may well have been seen as a possible replacement for Nicolas Jackson during the next six weeks whilst he is away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
If not ready to quite make that step then he could have played back-up to Armando Broja or Christopher Nkunku. Deivid Washington is also still on the books but has been more of a figure for the Under-21s than the first team. With seven games in January already, a number that could rise to eight or nine if Chelsea need a replay for this tie and get to the next round, it is set to be a testing month.
Fofana’s availability could have been key had things gone well for him but realistically it is another loan for the youngster while Pochettino works with his current options.
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