Renato Veiga exit: 'Chelsea u-turn emerges on January transfer window deal'

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Chelsea have performed a major “u-turn” amid an update on Renato Veiga’s future at the club, as reported by The Athletic.

The Portuguese defender had previously been linked with moves to Wolves and Borussia Dortmund amidst reports [The Guardian] that the club had no desires to let Veiga go out on loan, and instead only wanted to do a permanent deal.

However, the club’s stance has now changed, according to The Athletic’s Chelsea correspondent Simon Johnson, and the Blues are willing to let Veiga leave the club temporarily.

There is still the challenge of “playing and economic conditions” being met, and Marseille have now joined the race for the former FC Basel defender.

Veiga was left out of the matchday squad against Wolves on 20 January, by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca for “technical reasons” [The Standard] adding fuel to the flames that Veiga will leave the club in January.

Defensive uncertainty at Chelsea has caused their title-charge to falter

Football Insider Verdict

Heading in to the Christmas period, Chelsea were in imperious form and looked like the only genuine contenders to Liverpool.

However, a run of three draws and two defeats in five league games brought the Blues crashing down.

A 3-1 victory over Wolves on Monday (20 January) was an improvement, but the West London side now trail Liverpool by 10 points, with the Reds also having a game in hand.

In that time period, Chelsea were poor defensively, but the manner in which they conceded goals was even more troubling.

Having led for the majority of the match, the Blues gave up two late goals to Fulham on Boxing Day and they carried their nervous defending into their next match, a 2-0 loss to relegation-threatened Ipswich (30 December).

For a team with title-aspirations, conceding only one goal fewer than 12th placed Crystal Palace is indicative of the Blues’ defensive woes.

Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile have all been used at centre-back, owing to issues with injury, suspensions and now transfer rumours that have left the Argentinean without a settled defence to rely on.

Veiga looks set for a move away from the club, and there have also been question marks over the future of Badiashile and Disasi.

It is not just the back four that is suffering from uncertainty, as the club have also made a number of moves in the goalkeeping department in January, fans are also unhappy with the performances of Robert Sanchez.

Chelsea will look to carry the momentum of the win against Wolves into their next match against Man City on 25 January as the Blues look to put their defensive woes behind them.

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