Yahoo News Bizarre Chelsea decision shows dangers of route Leicester City may need to explore again
On the last day of the Premier League season, Cesare Casadei replaced Cole Palmer for the final moments of Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth. It took him to a grand total of 79 minutes of pitch-time under Mauricio Pochettino.
When Casadei was recalled by Chelsea in January, to the surprise and frustration of Enzo Maresca, it seemed it must be with the intention of the young Italian midfielder playing a decent-sized role at Stamford Bridge. After all, he was about to embark on a run of games at Leicester City as a regular starter.
Wilfred Ndidi was injured for a few months and that had opened the door for Casadei, who, as a more physical option than Dennis Praet and Yunus Akgun, was preferred by Maresca. For Chelsea to choose against that development, they must have had a plan for him, it seemed.
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Instead, he made 11 substitute appearances and not a single start, with his longest outing a 16-minute run-out in a victory over Tottenham. How much the 20-year-old would have learned from those minimal opportunities is unclear.
But it has taught City a lesson, one of the dangers of loaning in players. It’s perhaps something they need to keep in mind this summer with more short-term deals possible.
The financial constraints at City mean it’s going to be a “low-key” summer of transfers, Maresca has said. A spending spree is not to be expected, so loan deals may be required to strengthen the squad.
Because taking promising youngsters is not out of the question just because City are in the Premier League. This season, Burnley had David Datro Fofana from Chelsea, while James McAtee spent the campaign on loan from Manchester City at Sheffield United.
City are likely to be far enough out of contention that they won’t be considered a rival to the top clubs, and with the style of football they play under Maresca, they remain an attractive location to send prospects to learn their trade. It is most definitely a market they need to be looking at.
But the Casadei debacle shows the problem they could encounter. When City lost the Italian and didn’t replace him, it was a point of contention for Maresca for the remainder of the season. It upset the balance in his squad and left him short on options. In his post-season assessment of “things he didn’t like”, it cropped up.
However, it’s a risk City may have to take again. It may be the best way to strengthen the squad cheaply, even if it leaves them at the whims of the big clubs’ decisions. City can make an assessment of a club’s strength in depth and determine how likely a player is to be recalled mid-season. But even then, you risk losing someone so they can play 79 minutes in five months for their parent club.
