Chelsea are open to letting Omari Kellyman leave on loan in January, as the young attacker may need help to break into the first-team plans now.
According to Football Insider, Chelsea are willing to let Omari Kellyman depart on loan to gain experience and regular game time. The Championship seems a likely destination for him to get regular minutes, as there was some interest back at the end of the transfer window.
Chelsea made a surprise move for Omari Kellyman back in the summer and paid a hefty fee of close to £19 million. At the time, it was considered a bit absurd, given the 19-year-old had only played a total of 35 minutes for Aston Villa’s first team, spanning over six appearances.
Chelsea agreed a deal for Kellyman worth a lot of money, although that might have been designed to help each other out with PSR obligations, or at least that was the thinking at the time. In any case, the 19-year-old summer arrival has failed to break into the first team, as injuries have hampered his progress at Stamford Bridge.
He has suffered from hamstring and knee issues this season, which has also restricted Kellyman to just two appearances in Premier League 2. He is still considered a bright prospect for the future, as the level of investment in the 19-year-old summer arrival shows, although Chelsea believes he is not ready to break into the first-team mould just yet.
That might have been the thinking at the end of the summer window as well, as Birmingham City FC held an interest as the lower league side wanted him on loan. They could return to the fold in January, as Chelsea are thinking about a loan exit for Kellyman next month.
Omari Kellyman to leave on loan
The prospect of Kellyman joining another Premier League side in January are remote, and even if he does, it will come with its challenges. For starters, no top-flight side will provide guarantees of regular minutes, something that may only be possible in the lower leagues.
The Championship could be the best bet for Chelsea to send Kellyman to, although they are yet to gauge the level of interest in the young attacker. Other EFL sides could make a dash, and should he go to a League One side, for instance, the prospects of playing every week increase exponentially.