Chelsea might withhold Denis Zakaria from facing Dinamo Zagreb tomorrow to allow him to leave in January.
The Evening Standard suggest that the Swiss international may be prevented from making his debut for Graham Potter’s side in order to make him available for the winter transfer market.
No Chelsea debut yet for Denis
Zakaria has yet to make a single appearance for the Blues since leaving Juventus on loan in September.
He is in line for his debut tomorrow evening against Dinamo Zagreb, with Chelsea already through to the Champions League round of 16.
However, the powers above Potter might suggest the manager leave out the midfielder once more as they look to the next transfer window.
Having already played twice for Juve this season, FIFA rules prohibit players from playing for two different teams in the same campaign.
Face Dinamo on Wednesday, and Chelsea will have no choice but to keep a player that, as of yet, isn’t part of Potter’s plans.
Should Zakaria stay or go?
Relinquish Zakaria at the turn of the year and another, more permanent option could be installed.
Yet, it would seem unfair not to unleash the 25-year-old at least once before he potentially departs again.
After all, we are talking about a full international, who has experience at the highest level of European football.
Plus, he predominantly plays as a defensive midfielder, an area Chelsea have been trying to bolster ever since N’Golo Kante started to decline.
Kante hasn’t featured since the 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in the middle of August and there have been suggestions he could be out of the door before too long.
Lose him and Zakaria, and Potter will seriously need to wave his magic wand to conjure up another midfielder.
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