Ugochukwu attracting loan interest
- Published
Chelsea midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu is attracting loan interest early in the transfer window.
The 21-year-old midfielder has received loan enquiries from clubs like Valencia and Hamburg but a Premier League loan remains the most likely option with further clubs monitoring his situation closely.
A season at relegated Southampton - where he made 31 appearances and started nine of the last 10 league games - highlighted Ugochukwu's physical traits make him suitable for the Premier League after his £23.2m move to Chelsea from Rennes in 2023.
However, Chelsea currently have a preference to sell the France Under-21s international, especially if they can attract a substantial bidder.
Chelsea are also cautious about overseas loans as Fifa limit all clubs to just six such loans outside of their domestic divisions through new rules established in 2024.
Therefore, a sale is preferred, a domestic loan is the second preference and an overseas loan will only likely be sanctioned later in the window - if the first two are not achieved.
The likes of Dortmund loanee Carney Chukwuemeka and those not at the Club World Cup - including Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Joao Felix, Renato Veiga, Armando Broja and Djordje Petrovic - are in a similar situation.