Malik Mothersille moves to Derby County U18 on loan; Ethan Wady returns to Chelsea
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Photo by Clive Howes - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
The transfer window has shut last night, without much of anything happening for Chelsea, but there were a couple of more minor moves of note.
Chelsea U18 striker Malik Mothersille has moved to Derby County U18 on loan, the clubs have confirmed.
Derby County Academy are pleased to confirm the loan signing of Chelsea s 17-year-old forward Malik Mothersille for the remainder of the season.
The 17-year-old was signed from Leyton Orient last summer, and has made a solitary appearance for the U18 side. While a move to a fellow U18 side is a bit unusual, Chelsea do have an abundance of strikers at that level, with Jude Soonsup-Bell, Bryan Fiabema and Aleksi Heino already present on the roster. Presumably, Mothersille will be better off seeking game-time elsewhere in the short term.
Official: Jack Wakely joins Brighton U23 on loan from Chelsea
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Winter deadline day has been quieter than usual, and that was expected as the COVID crisis (and its economic consequences) rages on. But while Chelsea and other Premier League teams are not making first-team moves today either on arrivals or exits, that is not the case for our younger squads.
On that note, young centre-back Jack Wakely will have a new temporary home from today until the end of the 2020-21 by joining Brighton’s Under-23 squad.
✍ Defender Jack Wakely has signed for Albion on loan for the rest of the season from @ChelseaFC, and will join the club s under-23 side.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Olivier Giroud, who was linked with an exit in the months leading up to the January transfer window, has decided to stay at Chelsea once again, as per latest reports. His importance to the squad was well exhibited in recent weeks, with the World Cup-winner’s 9 goals in just 782 minutes being a crucial part of some of Chelsea’s better performances this season.
Just like last season, he managed to gain the trust of Frank Lampard, and he seems to be on Thomas Tuchel’s good books as well given the fact that he started the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers. A change of scenery doesn’t make too much sense for Giroud at this time, given that he would have to adapt to a new environment mid-season, and more importantly, since his place in the France national team for the European Championship is more or less confirmed.
Overview
Chelsea showed flashes of promise without producing anything of substance in a dull 0-0 draw against Wolves. In a game that was a write-off (mainly due to the lack of preparation time) before even a ball was kicked, there was nothing new learned about any of the players.
Wolves were happy to let Chelsea dominate the ball and rack up passing statistics around the box, safe in the knowledge that the team lacked the confidence and chutzpah to make the final pass. Only 10.5% of Chelsea’s final third touches came in the penalty box, some ways short of the 13.5% season average.