Chelsea have little money to spend this month – but still want to improve their squad for the second half of the season
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Chelsea have recalled winger Diego Moreira from his loan spell at Lyon, with the 19-year-old now set to join back up with Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.
The Portuguese youth international joined as a free agent in the summer and will spend the rest of the season at Stamford Bridge.
That’s because Chelsea fielded Moreira in a Carabao Cup game earlier this season and international transfer rules prohibit players from playing for three clubs in a single campaign. Moreira made nine appearances for Lyon in all competitions.
Diego Moreira has rejoined Chelsea (Image credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images for Premier League)
The exception would be if a loan move could be found to a league that plays a summer season, such as the United States or the Nordic leagues. That possibility aside, a further move would be off the table.
Also returning to Chelsea is midfielder Cesare Casadei, who has spent the season to date with Championship leaders Leicester City.
Like Moreira, the Italy under-21 international has struggled for regular starts this season after finding himself in and out of the side at the King Power Stadium. Casadei has nonetheless played at least some part in all but three of Leicester’s league games to date, as well as appearing in both domestic cups.
Cesare Casadei is back with Chelsea, too (Image credit: Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
That means Casadei is now cup-tied and will not be able to play any part in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Middlesbrough on Tuesday evening, nor in Friday night’s FA Cup fourth round clash with Aston Villa.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
The Standard writes that Pochettino ‘hopes Casadei will immediately boost Chelsea's training level in a crucial week which could define their season’. The club are believed to be taking a restrained approach in the transfer market to ensure they stay on the right side of Premier League financial rules.
Steven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication, WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.
