Photo by Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Photo by Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
The majority of Chelsea’s business on deadline day will be finding clubs for outgoing players, and there is a world where Chelsea can dump three players on Martin O’Neill’s Celtic.
Enzo Fernandez, Robert Sanchez, Marc Guiu, Tosin Adarabioyo and Mykhailo Mudryk are the big names expected to leave Stamford Bridge before the 11pm deadline. Spurs could pay Chelsea £82m by 2027.
A £7m permanent fee for Tosin, and a £75m option for Mudryk. Guiu is joining Leipzig for £14.5m, while Sanchez is set to take the fifth international loan spot at Chelsea – leaving one still up for grabs.
Then there is Fernandez, with a move seemingly depending on whether Chelsea can sign a replacement. But so many more players could leave Chelsea before the deadline, with three possibly going to Celtic.
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The three players that could join Celtic from Chelsea today
For a while now, Landon Emenalo has been linked with a move to Celtic. The American-born teen has been to Lennoxtown to have a look around, but a deal remains a doubt as he looks to prove he is fit.
Landon Emenalo of Chelsea
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
According to the Glasgow Times, Celtic have been made aware over a possible move for Kendry Paez. The £17m star is set to see his loan at River Plate cancelled, where he was scheduled to stay until 2027.
Finally, The Sun say Celtic could also look to bolster their goalkeeping department with the signing of Gaga Slonina. The shot-stopper is likely to be allowed to go permanently for a small fee on deadline day.
The five international loans and why Emenalo wouldn’t count
Premier League clubs are only allowed to loan six players to foreign clubs. Those who are under 21 and have trained for three years at Chelsea between the ages of 15 and 21 would not count as one of the six.
Gaga Slonina of Chelsea FC
Photo by Stuart Leggett/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Currently, Chelsea have four of those six slots filled: Benoit Badiashile, Filip Jorgensen, Mamadou Sarr and Jesse Derry. The latter takes a loan spot because he has not trained at Chelsea for three years.
Both criteria must be met to avoid taking a loan spot. Robert Sanchez is set to take a fifth spot, while Emenalo meets both criteria, meaning he could join Celtic without taking the final remaining loan space.
The scenario that would allow Celtic to sign the Chelsea trio
There is a world where Chelsea and Celtic could agree deals for all three. Emenalo remains a free loan and is the most likely of all three, given Michael’s son has been linked with a move to Glasgow for a while.
Paez took up a loan slot before his spell at River Plate was terminated. If he were to join Celtic, he would take the sixth gap, while Slonina is likely to leave permanently, and it appears Celtic could do a deal.
So, it remains possible that Paez, Slonina and Emenalo could all go to Celtic, and the trio of deals are within the rules. That is, if Chelsea do not loan any other players out to foreign clubs before the deadline.