In a month where Chelsea have been linked with Lionel Messi—as reported by the Daily Express‘ Anthony Chapman—the “Egyptian Messi” already on their books may be more consequential.
Needing midfield reinforcements after Juan Mata left Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford, the Blues bought Mohamed Salah for £11 million from FC Basel last January. Replacing an out-of-favour player may have been a clue has to the Egyptian’s future, and Salah’s west London adventure as largely gone to predictable type.
Appearing in just five matches for Chelsea this season—compiling under 300 minutes of game time—the winger’s chances have been limited, so one would think a loan opportunity would be ideal for all parties involved.
Football, however, does tend to be complicated when it should be rather simplistic.
Chelsea already have seven attacking midfielders on loan around the European continent, so loaning another could potentially create a shortage. Still having four competitions to handle, Jose Mourinho may think to give preferred options rest—whether via the bench or substitutions—and Salah’s presence is key in this prospective effort.
That said, the best interest of the player and club is development.
Marko Marin (25), Victor Moses (24), Gael Kakuta (23), Christian Atsu (23), Thorgan Hazard (21), Lucas Piazon (20) and Bertrand Traore (19) have all been loaned to hasten their development and/or receive extended minutes—difficult tasks to accomplish in west London—and Salah (22) should been in their category.
Brought off the bench in all three of his Premier League appearances, Salah has likely been kept at Stamford Bridge for possessing Olympic sprinter-like pace. Mourinho vs. Swansea City, Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur allowed the budding winger an opportunity to run at tired defences.
Despite his blistering speed, Salah—playing behind Willian, Andre Schurrle and Ramires on the right side of Chelsea’s attacking-midfield trio—has found breaking Mourinho’s starting XI difficult. Having no shortage of potential suitors, going on loan for six months would only help his case for next season.
Linked with Queens Park Rangers, Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion, Besiktas and Inter Milan—per the Daily Mail‘s Simon Jones—Chelsea do hold several options, and they should explore them; but as suggested by Harry Redknapp, there seems to be an understanding Salah is unavailable for loan this window.
The QPR boss, told reporters, via the Express‘ Chapman:
[Would I take him?] Of course I’d take him! But he’s not available.
I don’t think Chelsea would loan him, I’ve never asked for him. I’ve never thought about him until it was mentioned now.
He’s a very good player, but I don’t think we’ll get him on loan.
Were the main arguments for not loaning Salah “team dynamics” and/or “squad depth,” Mourinho could justify the loan by saying the 22-year-old has played around 10 percent of Chelsea’s total minutes this season and would not greatly alter the squad’s personality. Secondly, if his main advantages are speed and spelling preferred options, there are academy products who can do the same—Isaiah Brown for example.
A quality finisher who cannot lose foot races will always have a place in the Premier League, but in this particular case, Salah’s long-range potential (and market value) should not be stalled (or lowered) sitting behind better options.
Kurt Zouma, by comparison, has played in 11 games—logging over 720 minutes—this season and seems to be quickly developing at Stamford Bridge.
Salah has not been afforded such time (though bought in the same transfer window as the French defender) and should be given every opportunity to play regular, first-team football.
When teams come knocking for the “Egyptian Messi” as the January transfer window closes, rejecting even the premise appears detrimental for both the player’s development and Chelsea Football Club as a whole.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com where not noted.
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