Chelsea reluctant to let defender leave club permanently

Chelsea will hope to resurrect their dwindling season when they face Aston Villa on Saturday. 

The Blues enjoyed a flying start to the season and sat second in the Premier League table in mid-December, but a run of just two wins from their last nine games in the competition has seen Enzo Maraca’s side slip to sixth place in the top flight standings.

Chelsea produced arguably their worst performance of the season so far last time out, as they were beaten 3-0 by Brighton and Hove Albion at The Amex.

The West London side could once agin be busy in the transfer market when the window reopens this summer, but it appears that those in charge of the Blues have also made a decision on the future of one of their loanees.

According to TBR Football, the West London outfit believe that Renato Veiga could have a future in SW6 despite the defender joining Juventus on loan in January.

Veiga could return to be part of the Chelsea squad next season

Veiga, 21, only joined Chelsea from Swiss side Basel last summer but struggled to establish himself as a regular in Maresca’s side.

The Portuguese had played 18 times for the Blues across all competitions, before being sent to Turin on loan for the remainder of the season.

The Portugal international had primarily operated at left-back in Maresca’s side, but he is said to have joined Juventus in a bid to play as a central defender.

Veiga has made five appearances for the Old Lady, being deployed as a centre-back on all five occasions.

While Juventus are keen to keep hold of the player beyond the end of his loan spell this summer, the report claims that Chelsea are open to the idea of keeping the player.

Instead of allowing Veiga to depart permanently, the report suggests that Chelsea could sell fellow defender Benoit Badiashile during the upcoming summer transfer window.