The five loan players Chelsea could recall in January transfer window include ‘standout’ seven-goal midfielder

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With the January transfer window now open, Chelsea have the chance to recall their players out on loan.

Aaron Anselmino has returned to Chelsea, ending his time at Boca Juniors, while Gabriel Slonina has also been recalled from Barnsley.

Enzo Maresca wants to help Anselmino to settle, with the 19-year-old now being a potential option for his first-team squad.

Nothing else seems to be in the works in terms of more recalls as of now, but The Chelsea Chronicle has taken a look at five players the Blues may need to recall for different reasons.

• READ MORE: Chelsea loan watch: How every Blues loanee is performing in 2024/25 season as Alfie Gilchrist and Andrey Santos shine

Andrey Santos

With Romeo Lavia constantly getting injured and uncertainty surrounding Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s future, there could be room in Chelsea’s squad for Andrey Santos.

Santos is currently on loan at Strasbourg, where he is thriving. In 15 appearances this season, the midfielder has scored seven goals.

“He’s been by far the standout Strasbourg player,” journalist Graeme Bailey told The Chelsea Chronicle in November when discussing how the Blues feel about Santos’ loan. If Maresca feels that he needs another midfielder in his ranks this month, then Santos should be recalled.

Raheem Sterling

Someone who is not thriving during their loan spell is Raheem Sterling. Sterling is at Arsenal for the season, where he has made just two starts in the Premier League.

In December, it was claimed that Sterling was not thinking about a Chelsea return. But with how things are going, he may very well need the Blues to end his loan and send him somewhere else.

His stock has fallen rapidly, though. You would not expect the England international to have too many other options this month on his massive wages.

Lesley Ugochukwu

Like Sterling, Lesley Ugochukwu‘s Premier League loan has not gone well either. Last month, it was reported that Ugochukwu would return to Chelsea, but he has got a bit more game time since then, which may have changed his situation.

Nevertheless, the young midfielder still would have liked to have had more minutes by this stage of the campaign.

He is definitely a name to keep an eye on between now and the beginning of February when the transfer window closes.

Trevoh Chalobah

Trevoh Chalobah falls more into the Santos bracket. He is someone Chelsea may need to recall for the sake of their own team.

Wesley Fofana may not play again this season, while Maresca seems to have doubts about Tosin Adarabioyo.

He dropped the former Fulham man for 18-year-old Josh Acheampong in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, where Chalobah is spending the season.

Alfie Gilchrist

If Chelsea want to go down the route of recalling someone to help out in central defence, then Alfie Gilchrist is another option that they can consider.

The 21-year-old can also play at right-back, which is where he has been used at Sheffield United this season, so that is an added bonus.

But with his development going well there, the Blues may not want to disrupt it.