Transfer News: Several Pl clubs keeping tabs on Chelsea defensive starlet

Several Premier League clubs are interested in Chelsea defender Malang Sarr

According to French outlet Foot Mercato (h/t The Shields Gazette), several Premier League clubs are interested in signing Chelsea centre-back Malang Sarr on a loan deal in the January transfer window. These include Everton, Newcastle United, West Ham United, and Leicester City, who are all looking for defensive options in the January transfer market.

Blues coach Thomas Tuchel has barely used Sarr in the Premier League this season, instead preferring to play him in the league cup fixtures. The young defender has excelled in his displays in the Carabao Cup, leading Chelsea to the final scheduled for next month.

Although Chelsea are said to be keen to keep the player till the end of the season, the Frenchman is believed to be open to a potential loan exit this month.

The 22-year-old has not gotten regular game time this season, with Tuchel opting to play his senior defensive stars where possible. The player was last seen in a rare league appearance against defending champions Manchester City, where Chelsea narrowly lost 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

Given the recent defensive crisis at Stamford Bridge, Tuchel had no option but to give Sarr an outing in the Premier League last weekend against City. Despite the loss, the youngster put in a solid shift that could see him be retained for the upcoming clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The young centre-back seems to have won admirers in the league despite hardly featuring for the first team this season, as several clubs in the top-flight are keen to snap up the defender on a loan deal this month. The player’s willingness to go out and play regular minutes could also see him depart in January if Chelsea grants him permission to do so.

With several senior defenders ahead of him in the squad claiming a place in Tuchel’s starting line-up, it comes as no surprise that the Frenchman has sought a move away from west London this month in a bid to simply play more first-team football. The defender has shown that he is capable of performing well in the top-flight and could be a nifty player for the mid-table teams.

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It makes sense that the club are reluctant to let go of Sarr in January, given that our options at the back are currently stretched thin. Multiple injuries and an untimely Covid outbreak have forced Tuchel to compensate for the lack of options available for him.

If the club does let Sarr go out on loan, it is only sure to benefit the player’s development as he could return an improved player after his short spell away from Stamford Bridge. The Frenchman is regarded as a player for the future and is sure to make an impact in west London in the coming years if he continues to develop as expected.