Enis Zakaria may cut short his loan deal at Chelsea in January after failing to make a single appearance since moving to Stamford Bridge from Juventus this summer.
The midfielder has been frustrated by his lack of action and is expected to discuss his situation with manager Graham Potter and co-owner Todd Boehly this week.
Those conversations may lead to a pause in his one-season loan era unless he’s sure he’ll have opportunities in the coming weeks.
Zakaria, a 25-year-old Swiss international, joined Chelsea in a wonderful replacement on the day of the deadline after the Blues failed with moves for several other move targets.
But the move hasn’t worked and he still has to play a minute with Thomas Tuchel or Graham Potter. Chelsea have plans to revamp their midfield, with Jorginho and N’Golo Kante out of contract at the end of the season.
Jorginho has begun initial negotiations with the club over a new contract, but has so far been unable to succeed in a deal and has called for a minimum wage increase to align his salary with Cesar Azpilicueta, who signed a new two-year contract. contract in August. contract value £150,000 consistent with the week.
Barcelona take advantage of the contractual conditions of Kante and Jorginho and are willing to sign the Chelsea duo in loose signings next summer.
As well as a new touch for Mason Mount, Chelsea’s new owners are prioritising renewal talks with Jorginho and Kante. They will also renew Mateo Kovacic’s contract once they have a better understanding of who stays and who arrives.
Chelsea are keen to sign a new defensive midfielder in January or, more likely, next summer, when more high-profile figures such as Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham or West Ham’s Declan Rice become available.
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Whether Chelsea can reach an agreement with Jorginho and Kante will influence the urgency of their desire to sign a new midfielder. They made several donations for players at the end of the summer movement window, adding Ajax’s Edson Alvarez, PSV Eindhoven’s Ibrahim Sangare and Southampton’s Romeo. Wash.
Chelsea have the option to buy Zakaria for £30 million, but he is unlikely to be activated and he may return to Juventus in January in search of normal football.
He was on the bench for Sunday’s 2-0 win at Aston Villa, but Potter made his debut for Zakaria’s 18-year-old striker Carney Chukwuemeka earlier this month.
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