Chelsea have a long list of players currently out on loan elsewhere.
Chelsea’s plethora of talent sent out on loan is well documented but could they field a strong team made up solely of players out on loan?
Here is a starting XI, in Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 system, that would perhaps rival many Premier League teams…
Chelsea’s Jamal Blackman arrives for training
GK: Jamal Blackman
The tall stopper is earning good money at Chelsea, even if he has no long-term future at the club.
He has previously spent time out on loan with Middlesbrough and Swedish side Ostersunds.
The 23-year-old Londoner has spent this season out on loan with League Two side Wycombe Wanderers and impressed during his time at the club.
CB: Tomas Kalas
The Czech international famously marked Luis Suarez out of the game in a 2-0 Chelsea win v Liverpool in April 2014.
He has also spent time out on loan with former club Sigma Olomouc, Dutch side Vitesse and German outfit FC Koln.
Helped Middlesbrough to Premier League promotion last term and is hoping to do the same with Fulham this campaign.
Fulham’s Tomas Kalas celebrates at the final whistle
CB: Michael Hector
A shock signing from Reading in 2015 he was immediately loaned back to the Royals.
The Jamaican international, who spent 11 spells out on loan from the Berkshire side, has spent this season with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.
CB: Andreas Christensen
Considered one of Denmark’s hottest talents, you’d forgive Chelsea fans for forgetting he was still a Blue.
He has spent two seasons out on loan with Borussia Monchengladbach, and was their player of the season last term.
Looks like a genuine contender for future first-team football at Chelsea.
England’s Lewis Baker celebrates scoring their second goal with Demarai Gray
CM: Lewis Baker
An impressive England under-21 international, there is hope Baker can be a real star for Chelsea.
After spells at Sheffield Wednesday and MK Dons on loan he has settled at Dutch side Vitesse, where he has now spent two seasons and is considered one of the club’s best players.
CM: Marco van Ginkel
The Dutchman was signed from Vitesse in 2013 but suffered a serious knee injury not long after.
Spells at AC Milan and Stoke City followed but he is currently thriving out on loan with PSV Eindhoven.
Juventus’ Juan Cuadrado (L) celebrates after scoring a goal
RM: Juan Cuadrado
The Colombian would have been perfect for the Antonio Conte system, but he is now at his former club Juventus and thriving.
He struggled after a big-money move from Fiorentina and looks likely to remain in Italy in the long-run.
LM: Baba Rahman
Another big-money signing who has failed to settle at Chelsea. The left-back joined from FC Augsburg in 2015 but after just one season the Ghanaian headed to Schalke 04 on loan.
RW: Loic Remy
The French international joined Chelsea after impressing out on loan from QPR with Newcastle United.
However, he has failed to make a breakthrough at Stamford Bridge and in the summer was loaned out to Crystal Palace – where injuries have scuppered his progress.
Chelsea’s Bertrand Traore in action with Leicester’s Kasper Schmeichel
LW: Bertrand Traore
The Burkina Faso international has been with Chelsea since 2010, although only officially signed in 2013 after finally being granted a work permit.
After impressing on loan at Vitesse he was signed by Ajax on loan in the summer and has high hopes of making it at Chelsea.
ST: Tammy Abraham
The 19-year-old has been with Chelsea since he was seven and in the summer was sent out on loan to Bristol City.
He has not disappointed, scoring 25 goals in 45 games as Chelsea hope he can become a breakthrough star.
Bristol City’s Tammy Abraham celebrates scoring their goal
That team is extremely strong, with eight full internationals who altogether amount to 181 international caps.
They can even name a bench, with four full internationals present, such is their incredible loan system.
Subs: Matej Delac (GK), Matt Miazga (DF), Kenneth Omeruo (DF), Mario Pasalic (MF), Nathan (MF), Christian Atsu (FW), Izzy Brown (FW)
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