Chelsea agree Trevoh Chalobah deal with Crystal Palace – Ornstein

Chelsea have reached an agreement with Crystal Palace for the transfer of Trevoh Chalobah, according to David Ornstein.

The Blues are on the verge of offloading arguably their best defender. Homegrown fan favourite Chalobah has been forced out of the club but looks set to stay in London.

According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Crystal Palace have agreed a loan deal with Chelsea for the versatile defensive player. Intriguingly, it is a straight loan without a purchase option or obligation, meaning that the 25-year-old will have to return to Stamford Bridge next summer.

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Additionally, Crystal Palace have agreed to pay a loan fee, though the extent of the money involved has not yet been disclosed. Chalobah will arrive at Selhurst Park as a replacement for centre-back Joachim Andersen, who has joined Fulham, though he can also feature out wide and in defensive midfield.

Chalobah leaves Chelsea

Crystal Palace have been desperate to secure the arrivals of reinforcements after a disappointing start to the campaign. Interestingly, the Chalobah deal has not influenced the Eagles’ pursuit of Maxence Lacroix, with the former Wolfsburg defender already unveiled as a new player.

With Lacroix in the bag, Marc Guehi set to stay at the club following a frustrating Newcastle transfer saga and Chalobah also ready to join, Palace look poised to have one of the most intriguing and potentially impressive backlines in the Premier League.

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As for Chalobah, being forced out of his boyhood club won’t have gone down particularly well. Chalobah had been forced to train with the rest of Chelsea’s outcasts away from the first team and was also omitted from the pre-season tour of the US.

All of this despite the fact that he established himself as one of the Blues’ most reliable players after returning from a lengthy injury layoff last season. Now, he will suit up for Crystal Palace for the time being.