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3 months ago
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It’s hard to make a name for yourself in Chelsea’s bloated squad. Recruited for €27 million last summer, Lesley Ugochukwu nevertheless showed off his power and technique in Chelsea’s midfield last season. Author of fifteen appearances with the Blues under Mauricio Pochettino, the Rennes native saw his English season slowed down by a hamstring injury that kept him off the pitch for a few months.
Having returned to competition at the very end of the season, the Rennes native still played Chelsea’s last two Premier League matches. Selected by Thierry Henry for the Olympic Games, the Blues’ number 16 was recalled by his club before the start of the Paris Olympics to prepare for the season with the London club. Good news for the player ahead of the new season? Not necessarily.
Chelsea to loan Ugochukwu… without option to buy
As we mentioned in the middle of July, Chelsea’s desire is to loan their midfielder for an additional season to allow him to gain playing time, something that Enzo Maresca, the new Blues coach, cannot guarantee him today. After having been announced in Everton’s sights, it is another Premier League club that is about to grab the prize. As revealed by The Athleticit is Southampton who should recover the talented French midfielder, who also scored in a friendly with Chelsea a few days ago against Inter Milan (1-1).
The Saints are in advanced discussions with their counterparts at Chelsea to complete the player’s loan. According to our information, it would be a loan without an option to buy. There would only be a few details left to settle to ratify the operation. As a reminder, Southampton is back in the Premier League after a season spent in the Championship last year. There, Ugochukwu will meet another Frenchman, namely Sekou Mara. However, the latter is leaving and could return to Ligue 1 with Strasbourg…
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
