Chelsea technical coach for loan players Tore Andre Flo said Chelsea need to adjust the loan system by prioritising academy graduates, to adjust to the upcoming FIFA loan rule which will be in place starting next season.
In February, FIFA announced the new loan rule which restricts club from sending more than eight players aged 22 or over on overseas loan deals.
The rule will be enforced starting 2020/21, but the numbers will be reduced to six players the following season.
Chelsea currently have 28 players on loan, including 15 aged 22 or over.
Flo, who is in charge of Chelsea’s loan programme alongside several other club legends such as Paulo Ferreira, Claude Makelele and Carlo Cudicini, said the rule change will not have a big impact for the Blues.
He told Goal: “We expected changes, we’re doing our planning now and we will adjust things if we need to.
“Club-trained players under the age of 22 don’t count under the new rules and they’re the main focus of our programme, which is about sending our academy graduates out on loan. So, I don’t think it will affect us much.
“As a club, we already have fewer players out on loan now than before, so it is already a bit more focused. We can work a bit more with each player.”
If Chelsea will focus on sending academy graduates on loan, players such as Tiemoue Bakayoko, Victor Moses, Danny Drinkwater, Davide Zapacosta and co are likely to leave the club this summer to avoid breaching the new rule.
Flo also sees Frank Lampard’s young squad as a success for the loan programme. Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori, Reece James and Mason Mount have had their shares of loan spells before becoming established first-team members this season.
He added: “It has been a great year and Lampard has definitely made our jobs easier. I think everyone working for Chelsea are very happy to see these young players coming through and getting the chance.”