Chelsea will not allow player to leave until the injury issues are cleared up

Chelsea are reportedly planning on holding onto Malang Sarr until the extent of their injury woes has been cleared up.

According to Goal, the severity of Ben Chilwell’s anterior ligament damage will determine the future of their young defender after the New Year.

Chilwell could miss the rest of the season if surgery is required on the injury he picked up last month.

If that is the case, then Chelsea will be left rather short on the left side of their defensive unit.

Marcos Alonso remains the only real replacement at left wing-back for the side-lined England international.

Saul Niguez failed to impress in that position during the mid-week Champions League draw with Zenit St. Petersburg.

Thomas Tuchel has also put forward Christian Pulisic as a possible unconventional alternative.

One option that hasn’t really been discussed however is deputising Sarr instead of Chilwell.

The 22-year-old’s four Chelsea appearances have all been played on the left of the back three.

He has featured as a left-back for his former club Nice, so drafting him to wing-back wouldn’t be the most alien of moves.

If Chilwell’s damages are not as dreadful as hoped, then the Blues may consider letting Sarr leave in January.

Sports Mediaset claimed that Inter Milan are interested in the £120k-a-week (Spotrac) Frenchman, following the recommendation of Romelu Lukaku.

Lukaku and Sarr share the same agent – Federico Pastorello – so the potential switch to Serie A makes sense.

But nobody will be leaving Stamford Bridge before the diagnosis of their damaged soldiers is revealed.

Report: Chelsea will not allow player to leave until injury issues are cleared up