Chelsea set to end on-loan winger Kenedy’s Watford nightmare by recalling him in January
Kenedy was one of the few positive of Chelsea’s disastrous 2015/16 season. The Brazilian attacker was among the few youngsters along with Kurt Zouma, Bertrand Traore and Ruben Loftus-Cheek that managed to have a decent season when called upon.
The 20-year-old was a favourite of Jose Mourinho, who decided to keep him on at the club after being impressed with him during pre-season, rather than loan him out to another club.
He impressed last season, showing glimpses of his skill, trickery and flair. In 20 appearances last season, he managed 2 goals and 1 assist. However, he would end up spending most of the season playing at fullback, restricting him from showing more of his attacking prowess.
It was overall a promising season for the attacker and he was expected to possibly have a better one under Antonio Conte.
However, he was loaned out to Premier League side Watford and things haven’t gone according to plan. Since signing for them in the summer, he has played only 15 minutes for Walter Mazzari’s side. An injury to his knee hasn’t helped his cause and it is unlikely he has a future at the club, given that Mazzari has included him in the matchday squad only thrice this season.
According to a report from WD Sport, Chelsea are set to end his Vicarage Road nightmare and recall him in January. Kenedy’s return would allow him to properly rehabilitate his knee and maybe even allow to loan out another player to a Premier League club.
His return could also provide options for Antonio Conte for the left wing, given his experience as a fullback and a winger.
Christensen rules out return
The 20-year-old Danish international is currently seeing out his second year on loan at the German club from Chelsea, where he has grown on to become one of Europe’s finest young defenders.
He showed Chelsea exactly what they were missing last season, with stellar performances for Die Fohlen over the course of last season. He was widely expected to be brought back to Stamford Bridge, but he ultimately stayed at Borussia Park to see out the rest of his spell.
He made 39 appearances over the course of last season and immediately became a fan favourite. He capped off a brilliant individual season by winning their ‘Player Of The Year’ award.
According to TeamTalk, the big Dane has ruled out a January return to Stamford Bridge. “We aren’t in talks with Chelsea. I’m staying at Borussia,” he said, insisting that his focus was only on his side’s next game against Manchester City.
European heavyweights Barcelona and Juventus were both rumoured to be interested in the young center back and Chelsea even rejected Borussia’s advances to sign him on a permanent basis in the summer.
He would have been a perfect fit for Antonio Conte’s 3-man-defence, having gained a seasons’ worth of experience playing as a part of Andre Schubert’s back 3.
Given that John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic are both over their 30s, Gary Cahill and David Luiz are in the peak of their careers, Christensen would be the perfect long term option for Conte and alongside a recovering Kurt Zouma could form a part of Chelsea’s defence for years to come.
