Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah could leave Stamford Bridge on loan before the end of the month, according to reports in the English media.
The 22-year-old has put in two excellent displays against Villarreal and Crystal Palace, with it also being claimed that he could face Arsenal at the Emirates this Sunday.
However, Jules Kounde’s potential arrival at the club could reduce Chalobah’s game time and it could lead to him going out on his fourth loan spell. Fans on Twitter are very much split on whether that would be the right decision:
The kid has to stay – no need of debating about that.
— ZGOLO™ (@Zgolooo) August 16, 2021
Trevoh leaving on loan is his best move.
He gets guaranteed gametime and it will help in his development. I'm very sure Gilmour would have hoped he left on loan last season— 05 : 15 ⭐⭐ (@TTuchelCFC) August 16, 2021
I think Trev is good and should stay but Kounde is an upgrade on what we already have in that position. We can’t rate a player base on 2, 3 games. Kounde was one of the best defenders in the Spanish league last season and was included in the team of the season.
— Bella ? (@Bellaball_) August 16, 2021
going on loan or sitting out to warm the bench, I think the choice should be clear if he can play cdm we keep him, otherwise we get Kounde because he can b trusted in back 4
— Felix Murithi (@Felix__Murithi) August 16, 2021
Trevoh has proven himself to be in the first team… Kounde is good but Trevoh can be better under tuchel…
— Winter❄️ (@Weentarr) August 16, 2021
He'd have to go out on loan imo, he'd likely not get much playing time this season, and that won't be fair
— Tolu (@CFCToIu) August 16, 2021
lets see if tuchel meant what he said when talking about the academy post palace
— David W (@Indiejag) August 16, 2021
Kounde is a better player imo and even though Chalobah is ready a loan in the prem would not be that bad and then we have both in the squad next season
— CFCRyan (@CFCRyann_) August 16, 2021
He's staying ???
— ???? (@CFC_Akanjii) August 16, 2021
It’s a difficult one. Were Kounde to arrive in the closing days of the transfer window, it may limit Chalobah’s minutes and his development could be better served by joining another team on a temporary basis.
The centre-back’s displays in the first two games, though, suggest he is ready to be a first-team player now. Frank Leboeuf has already said that manager Thomas Tuchel should consider calling off the club’s pursuit of Kounde due to Chalobah but it would be a gamble as you can’t be sure that the former England Under 21 international will be able to sustain his current level of performance.